WASILLA — Wasilla Police will present their policies for use of force at a meeting with the Wasilla City Council about policing in the 21st century on March 16.
Wasilla Police arrested 25-year-old Tonisha Mahler of Anchorage at Walmart on Feb. 6 at 7:26 p.m. in an incident which was filmed and posted to Facebook. Desperate cries from Mahler as she was restrained by WPD officers sparked outcry over the use of force exhibited in the video.
“All use of force incidents involving any kind of restraint techniques other than just standard handcuffs gets reviewed,” said Wasilla Police Department Public Information Officer Amanda Graham.
Graham said that none of the officers involved in Mahler’s arrest that was later shared online have stopped working for WPD and that the internal review will likely be complete within the coming days. However, WPD will not issue a major incident press release following the arrest.
“This kind of incident isn’t that uncommon,” said Graham.
WPD received a report from Walmart that Mahler had begun “harassing patrons and damaging merchandise in the store,” according to the posted police dispatch. Mahler refused to identify herself to WPD and struck an officer in her attempt to flee. Once restrained, Mahler was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center where she was cleared of injuries and later taken to Mat-Su Pretrial on one count of fouirth-degree assault on a law enforcement officer. Mahler was arraigned the next day and will appear in court for a pre-trial conference on April 12.
“This was not a major incident for us, it just happened to get caught on camera,” said Graham.
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Interesting statement by Graham, "this type of incident is not uncommon, just happened to get caught on camera", I could not imagine how others have been "handled,hogtied, treat like "pigs" as they are carried to be slottered and dropped facedown into snow, shoved into a backseat and pulled into fit all while arms and legs chained behind ones back! My God, whoever agrees this is not excess force, inhumane treatment should be tied and carried in the same fashion! No human being deserves to be handled in such a way, this is a form of torture, that is how prisoners of war were handled! Authority must be held accountable and be taught morals, they are few and society is many, keep this up, society will rebel mark my words, this has gone on far to long!
Good for the Police, I am tired of the thugs getting away with everything, male or female. I am glad now that 40+ years ago the police were what you call now heavy handed, I was a punk also like most know it all young folks, after some tough love and Jail time with broken nose, I changed course quickly. There was no need for all these enabling agencies, or tools to revive the druggies so they can return to the life of crime. It is a personal choice to give up that lifestyle. I am speaking from experience. Good for the police, If you need them, you will be glad that they don't sit there and video the crime in stead of trying to stop it.
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