Police Taser Intoxicated E-Scooter Rider in Public Confrontation

A recent InMaricopa poll of 500 residents revealed that two-thirds oppose the city’s e-scooter usage. This sentiment is not without reason.

An incident occurred Saturday night involving a man initially thought to be a car accident victim. However, the Maricopa Police Department clarified that the individual, identified as Dominic Freeman, simply crashed his e-scooter while intoxicated. Freeman, 32, was arrested on charges of public drunkenness, resisting arrest, and criminal damage.

First responders were dispatched to Honeycutt Road and North Santa Rosa Parkway at 9:15 p.m. on reports of a car accident. They soon discovered that Freeman had fallen off his scooter. The police report mentioned that Freeman was “highly intoxicated” and “aggressive,” posing challenges to the medical evaluation by Maricopa Fire and Medical teams.

When officers attempted to handcuff Freeman, he resisted, forcing them to tackle him. Despite being restrained, Freeman continued to resist, leading officers to use a taser. During the struggle, an officer’s watch was damaged. Freeman’s blood alcohol content registered at .196, significantly above the legal limit.

Freeman was not charged with DUI, but the Phoenix-based Shah Law Firm emphasizes that DUI laws in Arizona apply to all motor vehicles, including e-scooters, regardless of where they are operated. He now faces up to 10 months in Pinal County jail.