Jan 3, 2008 5:26 pm US/Eastern
Charges Dropped Against Ohio Woman Tasered By Cop
WARREN, Ohio (CBS News) ―
Charges were dismissed today against a northeast Ohio woman who was
handcuffed and tasered by a patrolman whose actions were recorded by
police dashboard video.
The Warren officer who arrested 38-year-old Heidi Gill outside a
bar has been fired for lying to investigators in an unrelated traffic
stop.
Richard Kovach had refused to testify against the tasered woman on
the advice of his attorney. The FBI is currently investigating the
matter, and Kovach himself may face federal charges.
A video made from a cruiser shows Kovach using a Taser on the woman
as she screams and tries to kick out a rear window of the patrol car.
The officer got a two-month suspension in the stun gun case.
Tracy Timko Rose, the Warren Assistant City Prosecutor, said the
city was prepared to go forward with charges against Gill but that
Kovach's unavailability to testify forced them to drop the case.
"Had he been here we would have pursued the matter," she told CBS Affiliate WKBN-TV
in Youngstown, Ohio "We believe there was probable cause. We believe should he testify the
charges would be substantiated. But without his testimony we cannot
prove the charges against her."
Gill's attorney, Mark Hanni, believes Kovach will face federal charges.
"The torture he put Miss Gill through is just totally unexcuseable
and cannot be tolerated in the United States of America," Hanni told WKBN-TV.
Gill may not be off the hook for good; charges could be reinstated if Kovach is cleared in the investigation.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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