TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)-- Residents and leaders of the Frenchtown community say they want changes and answers after a 62-year-old woman was tazed by a Tallahassee police officer last week. They gathered this morning in front of the Time Saver Convenience Store just one block away from Dunn Street, where Viola Young was tazed last Tuesday.
Quontarrious Jones, Quaneshia Rivers and Laguna Young were charged with resisting an officer without violence. Young was also charged with violation of probation related to previous cocaine possession charges. According to police, 62-year-old Viola Young approached officers to find out what was going on, but refused to leave. Police say Officer Terry Mahan tazed her, and she was also charged with resisting an officer without violence.
But Frenchtown residents say the situation could have been avoided.
"There was no cause unless they can show me another reason all four of those people were arrested," said Dorothy Inman-Johnson, former Tallahassee Mayor and Commissioner.
"It doesn't make no sense. That could've been my mama, my sister. It could've been me," said Michael Roberts, who lives on Dunn Street. "That's how people feel bad about police because when you do something like that, you should be trying to tell people not to hurt them."
Residents and community leaders say they not only want a change in the Frenchtown community, but also throughout Tallahassee, because they say this incident could have happened anywhere.
"When we say all citizens, we mean exactly that," said Inman-Johnson.
"What we need to do is cement and conquer, because that's what it's going to take, all of us working together," said former Leon County Commissioner Anita Davis.
And safety is what the Frenchtown community says is their priority.
"They don't want to have to look out for acts of violence against them by strangers, by people doing crime in the community, and by the people who are sworn to protect them as well," said Inman Johnson.
We reached out to the Tallahassee Police Department for a response to Monday's news conference, but they say they cannot discuss anything regarding the incident because it is an open investigation. Chief Michael Deleo previously stated in an emergency press conference held at 3:15 a.m. last Wednesday the department will be open and honest about the investigation. Officer Terry Mahan is still on paid administrative leave.
