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Officer Cleared In Taser Incident

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By VALERIE KALFRIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 26, 2008

TAMPA - A Tampa police officer was justified in using a Taser to detain two teenagers found on a neighbor's property in Lithia without permission, although the officer's language was "less than professional," according to a police department review of the incident.

Cpl. Gene Strickland was off duty Oct. 2 when he used a Taser to detain Donnie Lunsford, then 17, and a 15-year-old friend of Lunsford for about 45 minutes, records show.

A departmental review found that Strickland had the authority to detain the teens because the property owner had asked him to remove trespassers, according to a disposition letter about the case released Wednesday in response to a public records request.

The review could not substantiate Lunsford's accusations that Strickland had placed the Taser against his neck and thrown him to the ground, the letter states. Lunsford had a cast on his right arm at the time.

The review found that Strickland made "somewhat unflattering" and "less than professional" comments to the teens during a recorded 911 call with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, but those remarks did not "rise to the level" of a policy violation, the letter states.

For instance, when Lunsford complained of pain in his injured arm from lying on the ground and asked to sit, Strickland said, "Your arm was already hurt," according to the recorded call.

Nevertheless, "those recorded comments will be reviewed with Cpl. Strickland so that he may remain cognizant of the need to treat everyone professionally in the future," the letter says.

Neither teen was arrested. The sheriff's office issued them trespassing warnings.

Strickland's attorney, Chip Purcell of Lutz, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Lunsford's father, Donald, said he was not satisfied with the outcome but was pleased the complaint would remain a public record. Donald Lunsford had filed a temporary injunction for protection against Strickland after the incident, which was dismissed in November because of insufficient evidence.

"I had to do what I thought was right and take it through the court system," Donald Lunsford said. "I know one thing: He won't mess with my boy again."

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin

@tampatrib.com.

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