Lashonn White is a deaf woman who called 911 after being attacked in her apartment. Instead of helping her, Tacoma police tasered her and put her in jail for 60 hours without an interpreter.
Two police officers were dispatched who had been told that she is deaf. She ran outside to meet them, and immediately, Officer Koskovich tasered her in her rib and stomach. Because of the fall, she suffered heavy bleeding from her knuckles, injuries to her cheek, chin, ribs, neck, and arms, and swelling on the right side of her face. Then they handcuffed her.
White was incredibly confused as to why she was under arrest, and couldn't talk to the officers because they don't know sign language. Koskovich said that he had yelled for White to stop, but she had ignored him -- in reality, she couldn't hear him.
Tell the Tacoma Police Department that all officers need to receive training concerning disabled individuals and to do a full investigation of the incident. Demand justice for Lashonn White!
Dear Tacoma Police Department,
Recently a woman named Lashonn White called 911 because she was being attacked. Instead of helping, two police officers were dispatched and proceeded to taser her and put her in jail.
White is deaf, and has been since birth. No interpreter was provided, so she could understand no one and was incredibly confused.
Officer Koskovich said that he tasered her because he yelled for her to stop and she didn't. She could not hear him, and he had been told that she is deaf.
Please do a full investigation of this incident and get justice for Lashonn White. Make sure that all officers have training concerning disabled people.
Thank you for your time.
