Washington State Patrol
Media Release
Chief John R. Batiste
Captain Jeff DeVere
Government and Media Relations
(360) 753-5299 – office
(360) 753-5469 – fax
http://www.wsp.wa.gov

***For Immediate Release***

Date: June 4, 2007
Contact: Sergeant Ted DeHart
Phone: (360) 753-2191 Cell (360) 507-3454
Display of TASER Calms Resisting Suspect
Washington State Patrol troopers were able to defuse a potentially violent situation today merely by
displaying a TASER device to a combative subject.
After becoming extremely belligerent and uncooperative - kicking out a Patrol car window, Curtis
Leonard Scott, a 34-year-old Langley man, immediately complied with troopers’ commands after being
shown the TASER. He indicated that he’d been tased before, and didn’t want to go through the
experience again.
At approximately 1:10 p.m., on June 3, 2007, a citizen reported an erratically driven vehicle southbound
on Interstate 5 at the Fort Lewis Main Gate.
The citizen worked diligently and kept WSP communications advised of the location of the vehicle, and
continued to follow the vehicle south on Interstate 5, until the vehicle exited to the Capitol Campus.
Troopers were advised and were attempting to locate the vehicle.
WSP Capitol Campus troopers attempted to locate the vehicle, and were able to stop the suspect vehicle at
7th Avenue and Capitol Boulevard. The suspect driver was arrested for DUI and placed into the back seat
of Trooper Elliott Georges’ patrol car.
Scott became very uncooperative and extremely belligerent, kicking out the right rear window of
Georges’ patrol car and continued his uncontrolled behavior. Trooper George, Trooper Dan Shades, and
Officer Smith from Olympia Police Department, attempted to remove Scott from the vehicle. Trooper
Gary Day removed his Taser from its holster and activated the laser aiming device. Scott immediately
complied saying, “don’t tase me, don’t tase me, I don’t want to be tased again.” (Scott had previously
been tased by another agency in an unrelated incident)
After being treated for the injuries sustained while kicking the glass out of the patrol car window, Scott
was transported to the Thurston County Jail where he was booked on malicious mischief 1st degree
(incapacitating a police vehicle), intimidating a public servant, resisting arrest, and DUI. Scott also faces
charges of probation violation(s) with the Department of Corrections for leaving Island County in
violation of his conditions of release on unrelated charges.
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