Officer accused of twice Tasering driver

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SALT LAKE CITY, May 31 (UPI) -- A Salt Lake City man filed a lawsuit against a state trooper for allegedly deploying her Taser stun gun twice against his arm, court records indicate.

Ryan Jones said Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Lisa Steed shocked him after she pulled him over March 28, as he sat in his car and asked to speak to his attorney, the Salt Lake Tribune reported Monday.

The complaint said Steed checked Jones' driver's license and other documents and asked him to take a breath test for alcohol, as she smelled liquor in the car.

Jones said in the suit he wanted to confer with his lawyer before submitting to the test. Steed then threatened to use her Taser if Jones didn't get out of his car.

Jones said he then requested she not fire the Taser, but she pressed it against his arm and deployed it, Jones alleges.

When Jones recovered from the gun's shock, he said again that he wanted to consult with his attorney, but Steed fired against his arm again. She then threatened a third deployment and arrested Jones when he refused to submit to the field sobriety test, the complaint reads.

The suit alleges the trooper used excessive force and violated the driver's constitutional rights.

"We know that troopers do get sued from time to time," Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Joe Dougherty said, refusing to further comment on a pending case.