WASHINGTON, June 7, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- TASER International, Inc. (Nasdaq:TASR), a market leader in advanced electronic control devices, released the following News Alert:
According to news reports from the Pocono Record in Pennsylvania, Barrett Township Police responded to a report of attempted suicide Saturday around 10:25 p.m. at the intersection of routes 390 and 447. Terence J. McArdle, 25, was found wielding a knife, slashing his own arms and threatening police. When asked to drop the knife, McArdle refused and continued to cut himself. Officers called for TASER-armed assistance from Stroud Area Regional Police and Pennsylvania State Police at Swiftwater. State Police Cpl. Thomas Hothouse arrived just after 11 p.m. and deployed his TASER device twice to subdue McArdle and take him into custody.
McArdle was transported by ambulance to the Pocono Medical Center during which time he became hostile. Officer Kenneth Palmer used his TASER device to control McArdle who was then handcuffed to the stretcher. McArdle was treated for cuts to his arm and released to the custody of the Monroe County Correctional Facility where he awaits a preliminary hearing on Thursday for charges of felony assault.
Barrett Police Chief Steven Williams said that the standoff could have had a much grimmer ending had the TASER guns not been available. Because Barrett Township officers currently do not carry TASER systems, Saturday marked the first time Swiftwater used a TASER device to assist another police department.
"We're fortunate to have the tools out there," Williams said.
This information was compiled through publicly available media reports and distributed by Dittus Communications, Inc. of Washington, D.C.
TASER International, Inc. and Dittus Communications, Inc. disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy of the media reports that are the sole responsibility of the attributed media source.
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