Police deny excessive force in Taser incident

Prince William County police Chief Charlie T. Deane on Thursday said officers acted “within policy” during a July incident when stun guns were used during two arrests at a baptism party near Manassas.

The preliminary results of an ongoing investigation launched after the July 26 incident showed that actions of officers responding to the call were “appropriate,” Deane said. He described injuries to the grandfather and the mother-of-two as minor.

“There appears to be no injuries beyond some possible redness of the skin, something similar to a bee sting, but I’m not sure, I don’t even have clear evidence that there was even that,” said Deane.

Police were called about 7 p.m. to a home in the 9600 block of Lafayette Avenue for a noise complaint. Deane said police were told that the party had been going on that afternoon since 4 p.m. and that was “getting out of hand.”

Police received reports from neighbors of fireworks going off and of heavy drinking. Police heard loud music emanating from speakers which stood about four feet tall, said Deane.

Police instructed the homeowner, 54-year-old Edgar Rodriguez, to turn down the music because he was violating a county noise ordinance. Deane said the man refused and became angry, was “clearly intoxicated,” refused to provide his identity to the officers when asked and then began cursing at them.

He was placed under arrest.

Police say the man resisted, saying that he was in his own yard, which is private property.

But, according to Deane, “when it comes to violating the law in public, in terms of being intoxicated in public or drinking in public, it is considered a public place.”

While he continued to resist arrest, officers placed the Taser up to the man and stunned him, Deane said. The Taser has two modes, one in which a projectile is fired and another that just stuns on contact. Police used the stun mode, Deane said.

Then a group of Rodriguez’s family members attempted to interfere with the arrest and approached the officers, prompting police to call for backup, Deane said.

Leticia Elias, a 25-year-old woman who was at the party, “made contact” with Rodriguez during the arrest, as well as with an officer.

“She pushed an officer and as a result of her failing to heed the officer’s directions to get back, she was placed under arrest. And as part of that arrest, the

Taser was also briefly used on her,” said Deane. That Taser was also used in stun mode and was placed directly on her skin.

Rodriguez’s wife, Delmy Ramos, described Elias as a family friend who, along with their other guests that day, were there for a party to celebrate a baptism of two toddlers. The family also alleged that Elias was pregnant at the time she was stunned.

Deane said the woman admitted in interviews with both jail officials and the police that she is not pregnant.

Deane treated the issue as a personal one, saying it was something he doesn’t regularly speak to, but said it needed to be addressed after the family’s multiple claims that she was pregnant.

Rodriguez was charged with public intoxication and resisting arrest. He was released on a $2,500 bond.

Elias was charged with assault and battery on a law enforcement officer, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest. She was released July 29 on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear on court on Aug. 28.

Deane also added that Rodriguez, his family or anyone else at the party that day have not filed a formal complaint against the department, nor have they been cooperative in the department’s internal investigation.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.