No charges filed in Santa Rosa deputy Taser case

Ryan Arvay
NWF Daily News
Nov. 26, 2007

There will be no criminal charges filed against Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Deputy, Davis Goodwin, for his use of a Taser on a 17-year-old girl in police custody.

The State Attorney’s Office released its decision late last week, after a detailed review of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation.

"Based on our review of this matter, we have determined that the facts are insufficient to prove a criminal violation beyond a reasonable doubt at trial," wrote Assistant State Attorney, Gregory A. Marcille, in a letter to Investigator Carl Causey with the FDLE.

Goodwin has been on paid administrative leave since the August 14 incident, but it is not known when he will return to active duty.

The girl in the case had been arrested by Goodwin for obstruction of justice while he and other deputies were attempting to serve a warrant on another suspect at his residence.

According to reports, officers arrived at the house and the girl answered the door. She told them the suspect was not home and denied access to the house. When the owner came home, access was granted and the suspect was found hiding in the attic.

The girl and the suspect were taken into custody. When corrections officers ordered her to sit in a chair, she refused and began yelling, continually demanding her handcuffs be removed, the report states.

Retrieving his Taser, Goodwin ordered the girl to sit once more, to which she responded, "no, ‘tase me." Goodwin told her he did not want to Tase her. He told investigators that when suspects see the Taser they usually comply.

Goodwin said the girl’s behavior made him feel it was "very possible that she could physically get out of control." He Tased her for five seconds.

The detention medical staff examined the teenager and moved her to the medical facilities at the jail.

The official Taser policy for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department states the burden of proof for justifiable use of the Taser lies with the officer.