Epilepsy Talk
Read this and weep… | February 22, 2024
“She was having a seizure. Police shocked her with a taser.
This is the story of how an Alabama teen sought justice after a violent police encounter upended her life.“
RAINBOW CITY, Ala. — Seventeen-year-old Tiara Helm danced and bobbed her head to the music, swaying among hundreds of concert-goers packed inside a theater in this small city northeast of Birmingham. Rapper Kevin Gates electrified the crowd as strobe lights pulsed.
Suddenly, Helm collapsed. Her body convulsed. Her head thrashed against the concrete floor.
She was gripped by one of the seizures that had plagued her since a car accident. When the high school junior came to, she found four Rainbow City police officers on top of her, pinning her down. Scared and disoriented, she begged to be let go and fought to get free.
The officers, who initially tried to keep her from hurting herself, decided she had become combative, according to multiple court records. They tightened their holds, leaving red marks on her arms. One wrapped his forearm around her neck in a headlock.
A fifth officer arrived — armed with a taser. He warned her he would use it if she didn’t settle down and behave. She cursed at him. He pressed the taser into her abdomen and pulled the trigger. Her body jerked. She screeched in pain…
To read more, click here: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/12/02/she-was-having-a-seizure-police-shocked-her-with-a-taser?fbclid=IwAR3LTM6aYvkKkcW9__5eNDOgv6fj_l-3gfvUsTYY8j8gg26apxkbXbJZssg
This article was published in partnership with USA Today Network, Montgomery Advertiser and AL.com.
To subscribe to Epilepsy Talk and get the latest articles, simply go to the bottom box of the right column, enter your email address and click on “Follow.”
7 Comments »
Leave a comment
About the author
Epilepsy Talk 
Sooo frustrating….
our legal system is so corrupt….
& ignorance about seizures is so pervasive. Two big seizures in a day is sure to lead to a psychosis that makes the individual difficult to manage. Obviously, her attorney was just as ignorant because it appears that no one testified to inform the judge, jury, OR defendants as to the many truths about epilepsy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by franboc — February 22, 2024 @ 11:03 AM
Ignorance is deadly, to all of us. Add the stigma of epilepsy and you hardly have a chance. 😢
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — February 22, 2024 @ 11:59 AM
I read the full article. This was extremely upsetting. I started crying. Truly horrible!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Karla Baye — February 24, 2024 @ 6:01 AM
Some people don’t deserve to be called “human beings”.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — February 24, 2024 @ 11:13 AM
it really underscores how epilepsy awareness needs to be taught in schools AND AT POLICE ACADEMIES! I was disgusted by this incident — wish I could say “shocked” but alas no. It’s an all too prevalent story. Thanks for spreading the news.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Arthur P. Johnson — February 25, 2024 @ 10:37 AM
I get that treatment from the health professionals, even had two security guards put on me who nearly broke my wrists although I was unconciuos, but at least here in the UK police have controlling boards which you can go to if mistreated, MPs and councillors always help, sometimes i just can’t believe what happens in America
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Miss Gail Barry — February 26, 2024 @ 3:49 AM
Abuse is what happens here, without a question of a doubt.
As Arthur said, until people are educated and awareness spreads, the circle of abuse will continue.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — February 26, 2024 @ 9:32 AM