“Gracious alive, why did they tase me? I wasn't a danger to them,” said 65-year-old Parker Mansell, Jr., who's been using a wheelchair to get around since a stroke left him paralyzed on the right side of his body 16 years ago.
The investigation conducted by the sheriff's office stemmed from an incident where deputies were called to help the Pickens City Police Department serve bench warrants at Parker Mansell's home on his son 25-year-old Travis Antonio Mansell last Friday, Feb. 20.
The sheriff's office said three deputies were accompanied by a police officer to serve the warrants from previous charges of Possession of Stolen Goods, Resisting Arrest and Driving Under Suspension at 805 W. Lee Street.
A release from the sheriff's office said Mansell's girlfriend Lanie Davis told deputies Travis was not there, even though deputies spotted Mansell through a window hiding inside the home.
When deputies went inside, they said Travis Mansell told them that he wouldn't go back to jail and that they would have to kill him.
“He's got that schizophrenia and bipolar. He told them, he said, ‘Don't come up on me,' and said, ‘If you do, you'll have to kill me to arrest me,'” said Parker Mansell.
Deputies called for backup while they tried to get Mansell to surrender.
The sheriff's office said Parker Mansell positioned his wheelchair between deputies and his son, trying to block them from getting to him.
A deputy tased Travis Mansell and arrested him.
The sheriff's office release said backup Deputy Steven A. Ticknor tased Parker Mansell.
The release said Ticknor felt the need to "prevent the father from injuring the deputies that were physically arresting the son.”
Parker Mansell said the tasing caused him to fall out of his wheelchair and cut his foot open.
“He hit the ground and I walked up and I was like, ‘Why did y'all tase him?' And the man took me and threw me on the couch,” said Davis.
Parker Mansell, Jr. and Lanie Davis
The investigation determined that the use of the taser on Parker Mansell was inappropriate and not within the scope of Pickens County policy, while the tasing of Travis Mansell was appropriate considering the situation.
"The father was confined to a wheelchair and was limited in mobility," said Sheriff Rick Clark in the release. "Though he was verbally upset, he posed no significant danger to the Deputies as he was unarmed and made no overt threats. The decision to use the Taser on Mr. Mansell, Jr was inappropriate and not necessary to protect any party nor was it necessary to the complete the arrest of Travis.”
Travis Antonio Mansell
Clark said it is unfortunate and disappointing that the deputy chose to use the level of force he did.
“The deputies are supposed to be here to serve and protect,” said Parker Mansell.
Clark has requested an external review of the incident by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
The office's investigation into the interference by Parker Mansell and Davis continues.
Travis Mansell is being held in the Pickens County Detention Center on Resisting Arrest and Possession of Cocaine charges in addition to the bench warrants.
Read More: http://www.wspa.com/story/28221363/deputy-fired-after-tasing-65-year-old-man-in-wheelchair-in-pickens-co
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