Why didn’t they taser me?

Unbelievable. The Herald reports:

David Taite still does not accept he should have been shot by police officers in an incident near the Central Hawke’s Bay township of Otane in October 2011.

Living in Waipukurau since the beginning of the year Taite, 51, is paralysed from the waist down as a result of his injuries.

So why was he shot?

Taite called out that he had a gun and was going to kill the officer. The officer, who was on the radio, got out of the patrol car and drew his Glock pistol, telling Taite he was armed and Taite should get on the ground.

Ignoring this instruction Taite moved towards the officer, who repeated the instruction to lie down. Taite ignored this and continued to advance towards the officer who then fired a single shot at Taite’s chest.

Taite fell to the ground and continued to yell abuse at the officers. He then started crawling towards the open driver’s side door of the patrol car where the keys were in the ignition and the car was running.

Concerned that Taite might try to escape using the police car, one of the officers ordered him to roll over and show his hands.

Taite then put his hand inside his trousers and replied that he had a grenade and was going to blow everyone up.

Concerned about this new threat and the safety of those around him, the officer struck Taite in the face, stunning him and Taite was then handcuffed.

The officers assessed Taite’s injuries as they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

Taite suffered a spinal injury from the gunshot and is permanently paralysed from his waist down.

What a shame we now have to pay for his care. He’s been shot once, and then claims he has a grenade. Such stupidity is lucky to be alive. The Police would have been within their rights to fire several more bullets into him.