Eugene (KMTR) – A high-profile investigation into the use of a Taser by a Eugene police officer during a downtown anti-pesticide demonstration has been closed. The police chief and the city’s Civilian Review Board say use of the Taser stun gun was justified.
University of Oregon student Ian Van Ornum was shocked twice by an officer with a Taser when he resisted arrest during a Eugene protest rally in May of 2008. In April, 2009, Van Ornum was convicted of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
At a news conference, Eugene Police Chief Pete Kerns said an internal investigation of the officer's actions concluded the officer acted within department policy and the Civilian Review Board agreed.
“Next step for the police department is to learn what we can from this and any trends that this may represent in our performance that we can improve on or adjust policy to,” Kerns said.
On the day of the protest, police also used force to stop two other men, Day Owen and Anthony Farley. Chief Kerns found the officers’ response in those cases was also within policy.
Kerns also said he found allegations that an officer repeatedly pounded Van Ornum's head into the pavement to be unfounded.
