Deputies Subdue Man with Taser to Keep Him From Live Wires

A 22-year-old Oakland Township resident who on Orion Road with his vehicle Sunday evening was subdued following the accident with a taser gun, according to a recent sheriff's office report.

Deputies believe the man was having a diabetic reaction, which caused him to lose control of his car and hit the pole; he was later found to be wearing an insulin pump.

"The vehicle had severed a power pole and there were power lines on the ground in front of the vehicle and on the driver's side of the vehicle," read the report. "Further, there were power lines hanging low to the rear of the vehicle."

When the driver started to exit his vehicle, he was ordered to stop and was informed about the live power lines. "(He) was unable or unwilling to understand or follow commands, possibly due to his head injury and/or his diabetes," read the report.

The driver began taking swings at the two deputies and members of the Oakland Township Fire Department who were trying to keep him from walking into the live power lines, according to the report. Deputies attempted to place the man – who is 6 feet 7 inches tall – in handcuffs, but "due to the proximity of the wires and not wanting to injure him any further, we were unable to get the cuffs on."

To subdue the man, the deputy deployed his taser, hitting the driver in the middle of his back and forcing him to the ground. "(He) continued to fight, and the taser was cycled multiple times," read the report.

Deputies were eventually able to handcuff the driver, remove him from the scene and strap him to a gurney, handcuffing his hands to the gurney. Once the ambulance reached Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital, the driver calmed down enough for the handcuffs to be removed.