Sheriff apologizes after deputies use Taser on pallbearer http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/3993466/ Wilmington, N.C. — A North Carolina sheriff's official has apologized for plunging a funeral into chaos when undercover agents tried to arrest the dead man's son – and used a Taser on him in the process. The incident happened Saturday as the coffin was being loaded into a hearse. The officers planned to quietly arrest Gladwyn Taft Russ III, who was serving as a pallbearer, The Star-News of Wilmington reported Wednesday. Late Wednesday, the newspaper reported that Sheriff Sid Causey said five members of the sheriff's office would be disciplined in connection with the incident. "I apologize to anyone that was there," Causey said Wednesday. "Family, friends, relatives. ... That was a bad decision." One of the five facing disciplinary action is Chief Deputy Ed McMahon, who was in charge of arresting Russ when the 42-year-old man attended his father's funeral on Saturday. Also, two lieutenants and the two undercover deputies who arrested Russ will be disciplined for their poor timing caused by miscommunication, Causey said. He would not disclose what type of disciplinary action would be taken, but McMahon was working Wednesday. Family members declined to comment on Wednesday, and Causey said he had not personally met with them. McMahon, however, has met with the family several times. Causey said he would be willing to meet with Russ' family if they wished. There was no answer Wednesday evening at the phone number listed for Gladwyn Russ. Relatives said two deputies dressed in coats and ties grabbed Russ and kneed him in his back before using the Taser on him. One deputy's gun fell out of its holster. Russ' sister, Taffy Gause, said when she got out of the car a deputy "was waving a gun at me and my mom and yelling to get back or he was going to shoot." She said some mourners went home instead of going to the cemetery. Russ, 42, had failed to turn himself in as promised after being charged with threatening his ex-wife who lives in another state, officials said. Officers tried to serve the warrant Nov. 8, but Russ barricaded himself in a house. Officers agreed to let him surrender after his 70-year-old father had surgery, but the elder Russ died Nov. 11 and his son called to say he would surrender after the funeral. When deputies approached Russ during the funeral, he "went wild" and spat on the officers, McMahon said. McMahon said the officers should have waited until after the cemetery service. "It was never my intention to create any more problems for the family, and I am truly sorry and apologize for that," he said. McMahon said the officers pointed Tasers at people because the crowd was moving toward them. Russ was charged with assault on a government official, resisting an officer, disorderly conduct and felony malicious conduct by a prisoner. "Everybody was so scared. We thought it was a drug deal gone bad," said Ronnie Simmons, a pallbearer and Russ' brother-in-law. "We almost dropped the casket." Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<<<<<<FOR THE BANNED GUY. I think this may get real bad.
