Police pulled him over on his farm. He was tasered 30 seconds later
Police have faced criticism for using tasers in controversial incidents involving individuals with disabilities on private property and at a special school. Footage and testimony reveal rapid and forceful responses, raising concerns about excessive use of force and inadequate safeguards. A Four Corners investigation highlights systemic issues around taser reliance and lack of transparency in police data.
- ▪Stephen was tasered within 30 seconds of exiting his vehicle on his family farm, despite raising his hands and stating he was on private property.
- ▪He has an acquired brain injury, and Victoria Police justified the tasing by citing prior safety warnings and claiming he approached officers in an aggressive manner.
- ▪Tiejwana, a 16-year-old with multiple disabilities, was tasered at her special school in 2020 while in distress during a police interview as a potential sexual assault victim.
- ▪Police data on taser use lacks transparency, making it difficult to assess how frequently such incidents occur across Australia.
- ▪Tasers are intended for life-threatening situations, but investigations suggest they are increasingly used in non-lethal, inappropriate contexts.
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Police criticised for using tasers on people in inappropriate and unnecessary situationsBy Grace Tobin and Kirsten Robb from ABC Investigations, Madi Chwasta and Ruby JonesFour CornersTopic:Police17m ago17 minutes agoFri 1 May 2026 at 8:05pmLoading...abc.net.au/news/police-taser-device-reliance-misuse-concerns-four-corners/106628214Link copiedShareShare articleIt was a routine so familiar to Stephen he could do it on autopilot: check the shed was locked, the gates were shut, and the sprinklers were running before leaving the farm for the day.This night was different.It was just after 11pm when his mirrors were blinded by the headlights of a vehicle behind him.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).