WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 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 the Bay City News in San Francisco, a Cotati man, who appeared in Sonoma County Superior Court Wednesday for violating terms of his parole, attacked sheriff's Deputy Eric Greenband and lunged for his weapon as the deputy approached the man to be taken into custody. Martin E. Hirtz, 44, grabbed the deputy's holster with both hands and made back and forth jerking motions to try and free the gun. Greenband attempted to counter the attack by using both hands to keep the gun holstered but was forced by Hirtz to bend over backwards against a short wall in the courtroom. Greenband sustained strains to his back and shoulders as well as contusions during the ordeal.
Deputy Will Connor tried to loosen Hirtz's grip while other deputies in the courtroom broadcast a radio call for help. Hirtz's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Jeff Mitchell, along with Deputy District Attorney Robert Waner assisted in trying to restrain the defendant. Mitchell punched Hirtz several times in the face while Waner took hold of one of Hirtz's arms.
"He (Hirtz) had one hand on the hand on the gun and I heard it was unsnapped. At that point I though he was going to clear it (the gun)," said Mitchell.
When attempts to break Hirtz away from the holster failed, Deputy Debbie Little, who came into the courtroom to assist, deployed her TASER device twice to temporarily disable the defendant and place him in custody. The incident lasted two to three minutes.
Hirtz was taken to Sutter Hospital for a medical evaluation and head lacerations he received during the brawl. He was then booked at Sonoma County Jail for charges ranging from assault on a peace officer, to attempting to disarm a peace officer, to probation violation. Hirtz was previously convicted of assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.
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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