Councilor 'Tased' for 'the experience'
Ashland City Councilor Russ Silbiger wanted to be able to "speak from experience" at tonights council meeting.
After being "tased" by Ashland police on Monday, in a demonstration to show that Tasers are a safe way to apprehend criminals, he has gained that first-hand experience he was looking for.
With two officers holding him up by the arms, and two metal probes stuck into his shirt, Silbiger got about a one-second jolt of 50,000 volts.
"I'm nervous," he said as he prepared for the test. "My worst fear is having an embarrassing moment."
Officers told him he may be prone to shout in pain, and others warned that he could potentially lose control of his bodily functions.
But none of that happened.
"OK," he said after withering in pain for a moment from the shock. His knees buckled, but he regained his balance and added, "That was less than I thought."
"Anyone who has played with electricity, it's just like that," he added. "I felt it most at the points of contact. It basically short-circuited the muscles. Actually, I thought it would be worse."
It could have been. Because the probes were attached to his shirt, rather than being sticking into his body, he didn't get the kind of jolt a combative suspect might on the street. Police chief Terry Holderness, who watched the demonstration, said the more clothes a Taser shock has to penetrate, the less effective it will be.
For Silbiger, that was enough though.
Officer Teri DeSilva asked him if he wanted to try it again.
"Once was enough," Silbiger said. "In reading the report, it surprised me that police had to 'tase' people a second time. That to me says people can be out of control."
A few minutes later, he added, "I can still feel the effects in my muscles. They are sort of buzzy. It feels like I worked out for about a half hour."
Silbiger has swam with sharks and, as a volunteer fire fighter in California, ran into burning buildings. Being "tased" in a controlled situation is not the most dangerous thing he has ever done.
Before he was "tased," he joked that the Taser demonstration would likely be less painful than the council conversation about Tasers. With the demonstration now behind him, the conversation will occur tonight, 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 1175 E. Main St.
Staff writer Robert Plain can be reached at 482-3456 ext. 226 or bplain@dailytidings.com.
