(FOLEY, Ala.) -A couple from Arizona is facing multiple charges after a tasing and tackling incident was caught on tape. It happened at the Wal-Mart in Foley.
Foley police say what started as a routine patrol night for Officer Caleb Bibby changed drastically when he stepped inside the store. "The subject walks up to him and wants to know his name and badge number and says he's committing treason by shopping on duty," says Lt. Thurston Bullock. "He says that he's under federal investigation."
Bullock says Anthony and Chrisanna Smith kept threatening his officer. Bibby escorted them out of the store to arrest them for disorderly conduct.
A bystander caught the rest of the confrontation on video. Bibby calls for back-up and tries to cuff Anthony Smith. "He sees the officer at that point try to get his handcuffs out, get cuffs on him. He strikes the officer in the throat," says Bullock.
After more screaming from the couple, Anthony Smith walks off just as a second officer arrives. "The subject is ordered to the ground," says Bullock. "He still doesn't comply with the officer's demands. That's when he's tased."
The video shows Chrisanna Miller swinging her bag at the officer. He tackles her to the ground.
Bullock says his officer acted appropriately. "The officer went above and beyond in reference to giving the subject chance after chance to obey his commands," he says.
LOCAL 15 News asked Wal-Mart employees and shoppers what they thought of this video. "They used it just to take him down and turn him in and that was good," says Wal-Mart employee Quave McMillan.
"I dont think it was excessive force by no means," says Brittany Haynes.
"I think it was a little extreme," says resident Chris Walters. "No, I don't think it was worth the tackle, especially for a woman."
"They're lucky they didn't get worse than that," says Wal-Mart shopper Jackie Young.
Bullock says Anthony Smith has a history with Foley police. He says Smith confronted him three weeks ago at a restaurant as he ate with other officers. Bullock says he escorted him out of the restaurant.
The Smith's face assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges.
Now that Bullock has reviewed the tasing incident, the deputy chief and chief of police will decide whether they believe appropriate force was used. The officers involved were not placed on leave.
The department just received the tasers a few weeks ago. All officers have been trained on how to use them. This is the first time one has been used on a suspect.
