GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) – A prosecutor says police officers in Greenville were justified when they shocked a 34-year-old man with autism after he ran away as they were investigating a report of gunshots.
Solicitor Walt Wilkins said at a news conference Friday that Tario Anderson was walking at 11:50 p.m. Christmas Eve when officers who heard gunshots seconds before shined a spotlight on him to question him.
Wilkins says Anderson putting his hands in his pocket and running was enough reason for the officers to detain him. Witnesses say Anderson was on the ground crying for his mother after he was shocked with a Taser and handcuffed.
Civil rights groups say Anderson was shocked because he is black. They want federal prosecutors to investigate the incident as a possible violation of Anderson’s civil rights.
