Trotwood tasing: What’s next?

By Doug Page | Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 02:29 PM

The jury’s not guilty verdicts last week is not likely to end the saga of the tasing of Valreca Redden.

A civil suit over the November 2007 confrontation between Ms. Redden and then Trotwood police officer Michael Wilmer is a good bet.

The jury’s verdict on misdemeanor counts of obstruction of official business and resisting arrest would seem to indicate that Redden’s lawyer Brian Penick convinced the jury Wilmer was in the wrong. Wilmer was fired for violations of Police Department policy separate from the Redden confrontation.

During that confrontation, Wilmer restrained Redden when she tried to leave with her 1-year-old son, took her to the ground and tased her in the neck. An internal police investigation faulted Wilmer for striking the 7-month pregnant woman in the neck with his Taser.

During the two-day trial last week, the city argued Redden came to the police department to “dispose” of her 1-year-old and refused to answer any questions from Wilmer. Wilmer said he believed the child would be harmed if he left with his mother.

Penick argued Redden came to the department seeking help. And for that she was tased.

Redden did not testify in her criminal trial.

For its part, Trotwood has done the best it could with a bad situation. Officials inside and out of the department have been forthcoming with information. Officers have been disciplined. Procedures tightened. Nothing, to my knowledge, swept under the rug.

Expect something to happen shortly.

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