Police: Taser Was Necessary for Man Resisting Arrest

A traffic stop in the early hours of Jan. 1 quickly escalated and led Malvern Police to discharge a Taser twice to subdue a Phoenixville man. Police say Trevor Young, 20, a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for a broken headlight, had been drinking and was being disorderly while officers searched the vehicle for weapons.

At a Feb. 1 preliminary hearing, Judge Chester Darlington found there was sufficient evidence to support a charge of resisting arrest against Young. His defense lawyer questioned whether Young presented a legitimate physical threat that would require the Taser.

At the hearing, Malvern Police officer Chris Gravina testified that he pulled a sedan over near . He said the driver, whom he suspected of DUI, was "acting goofy" and putting his hands in his pockets, and a pat down yielded an ammunition magazine for a pistol.

As other police officers arrived, the five occupants were removed from the vehicle and police searched for a gun. According to Gravina, Young began to yell and scream, attracting the attention of bystanders in the condominium complex. Young admitted to drinking beer and shots, saying he was 21 but giving a birthdate that Gravina calculated would make him 20, the officer testified.

When Gravina attempted to handcuff him, Young resisted, according to the officer, and a Tredyffrin police officer "bear hugged" him and dragged him to the ground. A Taser was then used twice, according to the testimony.

"I screamed several times, 'Stop resisting or you're going to be tazed," Gravina said. "He continued resisting."

The defense lawyer, William McLaughlin, asked if Young had been flailing his arms, and Gravina replied that he never had the chance to do so. McLaughlin also questioned whether Young was told why he was being placed under arrest.

A pistol was eventually found in the trunk of the car, but the driver had a permit for it.

Judge Darlington ordered Young held for trial on all charges, which also include disorderly conduct and consumption of alcoholic beverages by a minor. Bail was set at $1,000 unsecured.