There is a Facebook page which will follow the trial of Jim Duensing, a Libertarian who was shot in the back by a Las Vegas policeman in 2009. He is on trial for resisting with a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, and being an ex felon in possession of a weapon.
Jim was the Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Nevada until early 2009, has been a candidate for US Senate in Nevada, and has been active in Libertarian and Boston Tea Party activities for years.
Here is an account of what happened, from Mr. Duensing:
I was pulled over for driving straight through an intersection in a right turn only lane. I did signal for my lane changes to the left.
After exiting the vehicle at the officer’s request, I was standing with my back to the vehicle. The car’s open door was to my right. My hands were raised above my head. I was calmly speaking to the cop attempting to talk my way out of being taken to jail over an unpaid High Occupancy Vehicle ticket.
With my hands raised above my head, the cop shot me with a taser in the chest. As I have had heart problems since my premature birth, I believe a Taser to be a lethal weapon. Several people without heart conditions have been killed by this weapon.
When the taser began electrocuting me, instinct took over. I have been shocked by standard 120 volt electricity, which is what is used in your home. That was bad enough. Metro’s tasers contain “50,000 volts of pain compliance” according to one of the cops at the family law court who was operating the checkpoint.
Let me tell you, it is quite painful.
I immediately turned to my left and began moving away from the source of the electrocution. By the time I got to the back of the vehicle, I had reached up with both hands, grabbed the electrodes, and pulled them away from my chest. The juice then flowed through my arms – not my heart. As I lay here in my hospital bed, I firmly believe this instinct saved my life.
I continued running away from the taser. I heard the cop fire it again, but did not feel an additional shock.
I was running down the sidewalk with empty hands. I heard three pops from behind me. At first, I thought it was another taser shot. Then, I saw my left arm dangling.
I was taken down by a second officer – who was nearby conducting a separate unrelated traffic stop. He had me lying facedown on my broken arm. It was at this point that he found my licensed and registered pistol in my right cargo pants pocket and my Emerson folding knife in my right front pocket.
Let me reiterate. I am a firearms instructor at the world’s largest firearms training facility. I always carry a gun and at least one knife. I NEVER pulled either of these items out of my pockets.
The shooter was on my right side and from his perspective had to have been able to see that my right hand was indeed empty. The officer that I was running toward never reached for any weapon.
I’d like to publicly thank the Trauma surgeons at the UMC Medical facility. They did an excellent job. The reason additional surgery on my arm is necessary is because the wounds to my chest took priority. For good reason, they worry first about life, then about limb.
Here is the Facebook page, which will keep all interested people up-to-date:
Here is a news report from 2009.
Also, here is an IPR article written by Paulie about a radio interview Jim was part of.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/pahrump-lawyer-convicted-felonies-encounter-police
sad
“Jill Pyeatt Post author
November 10, 2014 at 6:45 pm
‘Debra Dedmon’s status:’ Very sad day for Liberty in Nevada, Jim Duensing has just been found guilty on all counts….they have taken him into custody….no words.:(‘”
This is truly a miscarriage of justice. Disgusting. Jim Duensing does not deserve this. I hope that he makes it through this ordeal OK.
I’ll post what I can find, when I can. Hopefully by tomorrrow there will be some write-ups about what happened during the trial. I actually don’t even know what the exact charges were.
I’m not surprised, I’m afraid to say. Since the policeman shot him, they kind of had to convict him of something in case Jim files a civil lawsuit (which I hope he does). There’s a comment from someone that much of the evidence for the defense wasm’t allowed, such as past bad cop behavior form the shooter, yet Jim;s politics were allowed to be discussed in the trial. I want to know what happened.
I don’t know Jim well, but I know him to be a principled activist, and he’s been a family man the past couple of years. I’m very sorry at this outcome.
I don’t know the details of the case, so I won’t comment on the verdict. But, it certainly is disheartening when anyone is locked up, much a less a good Libertarian.
Sad news indeed.
Debra Dedmon’s status:” Very sad day for Liberty in Nevada, Jim Duensing has just been found guilty on all counts….they have taken him into custody….no words.:(“
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/jim-duensing-verdict-watch
I don’t think anything is happening right now, but the link will most likely be active this afternoon again.
https://new.livestream.com/accounts/10875956/events/3575317 – a livestream of the courtroom hallway during jury deliberations.
@ Starchild – I have been very pleased with the performance of my attorney’s Thomas Pitaro and Mike Micelli. They have both completely outclassed the state’s agents.
To everyone – I appreciate all the prayers and support. This jury is mad that the prosecution has wasted their time on a case with no victim but the defendant. They now see it as a big drawn out charade to protect a bad cop. They will bring back a not guilty on all counts verdict in less than an hour.
I haven’t seen much about what’s going on with this trial last week, but here is Jim’s status for tonight:
“Closing Statements will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday in courtroom 14D. Followed by a victory party at Main Street Station’s Brewery. If my reading of the jury is correct, they are more likely to lock up the prosecutors for wasting their time than me for getting shot in the back. I am very much looking forward to tomorrow. Come help celebrate.”
Rate David Michael Gilbert on http://ratemycop.com <-
Jim, you don’t sound very confident in your attorney seeing things as you do — I hope s/he is fighting the good fight on your behalf, and not playing “go along to get along”.
Is there anyone we can call or email to support you in this case? To provide good character references perhaps? Or to ask them to prosecute this corrupt and murderous LVPD cop who tazed and shot you, David Michael Gilbert?
They’ll answer to a higher authority.
Jim’s FB status from November 1:
The Facebook page says Jim is NOT a felon. He had no criminal record at all. He also had a concealed carry permit for his concealed gun. I’ll try to find out more specifically what the charges are. I just paraphrased what his mother wrote on the event page, and I found surprisingly little on a google search.
William Saturn
October 30, 2014 at 10:57 pm
“Were the cops ever tried?”
VERY FUNNY!
Yuk, yuk, yuk!
Case in point:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/24/us/ohio-walmart-death/ No indictment in police shooting death of Ohio man carrying air rifle
Not as far as I know. Cops pretty much have to shoot you for no reason whatsoever with lots of witnesses and video, and then maybe they get indicted – although not always.
Me too!
Agreed.
Agreed.
Dunno. Good question.
New articles would probably be better, if possible.
I don’t think so, William. I actually didn’t find much information on it.
Were the cops ever tried?
I wish him the best of luck.
” carrying a concealed weapon,”
There should be no laws against carrying weapons, openly or concealed.
“and being an ex felon in possession of a weapon.”
A person should have all of their rights restored once they are out of jail or prison for whatever it is that got them put in there.
What offense made Jim Duensing a felon?
I’ll do my best to keep this article updated throughout the trial.