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Drunk Spectator Tasered During Florida Golf Tournament
By
Jen Chung
Published May 8, 2010
Modified May 8, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published May 8, 2010
Modified May 8, 2010
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We've officially entered the age of stupid fans who get Tasered: Days after a 17-year-old was Tasered after running onto the field at a Phillies game, a drunk and belligerent 36-year-old man watching a Florida golf tournament was Tasered. Travis Parmelee was reportedly yelling at players at the 11th hole of the Players Championship and was belligerent with hole marshals and, later, sheriff's deputies. He was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest.
According to the Florida Times-Union, Capt. Dave Messenger said that Parmalee refused to calm down: "When police tried to arrest the suspect, he resisted and officers were forced to Tase him to subdue him, Messenger said. 'We try to get people to comply,' Messenger said. 'Oftentimes if they comply, we'll make them leave. That's our goal.'" He also told the AP, "Most people really want to watch golf, and others came out here to drink."
Yesterday, the NY Times published an editorial criticizing the Tasering at the Phillies game: "[Steve] Consalvi was also outnumbered, had no way to escape and posed no evident threat, except to the flow of a good ballgame and maybe to the pride of officers who were older, heavier and slower than he... Having a powerful weapon doesn’t mean you fire it with abandon." And there was this dig: "All cities have dumb fans. Philadelphia seems to have more than its share."
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golf
sports
Steve Consalvi
taser
Travis Paramlee
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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