WASHINGTON, May 9, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- TASER International, Inc. (Nasdaq:TASR), a market leader in advanced electronic control devices, released the following News Alert:
According to reports from KFDM-TV Channel 6 News, a man who allegedly chased his son with a machete down the 3200 block of 42nd street in Port Arthur Monday night was arrested after turning a samurai sword on police. Police say the 300-pound man who suffers from mental illness threatened officers with the sword following the chase with his son. Officers used a TASER electronic control device to subdue the man and gain control of the sword.
"This is an example right here that utilizing the TASER saved a man's life," said Chief Mark Blanton. "The officers would've had no option but deadly force with a handgun. This offers us an option against weapons like this."
Police will ask Port Arthur city council for funding to buy 15 additional TASER devices to equip all 47 patrol officers who are trained to use them.
The suspect was taken to a local hospital before being transported to Jefferson County Jail where we faces possible charges of assault on a police officer.
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.
The TASER International logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2931
For more information on this life-saving technology, please visit: www.TASER.com.