Police have released footage of a traffic stop in which a driver was tased twice before being shot as he tried to drive off.
Michael Tyler Jacques, 31, was heavily intoxicated when police in Bend, Oregon pulled him over on December 23, 2016, in a traffic stop that turned deadly just moments after it began.
The incident began around 10.30pm, when Officers Scott Schaier and Marc Tisher responded separately to multiple 911 calls about a suspected drunk driver and pulled Jacques over near the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Bond Street.
The sequence of events unfolded in a matter of seconds.
According to a Oregon Department of Justice investigation reported by the Bend Bulletin, both officers approached Jacques’ Dodge Caravan van carefully, and noticed he had glassy, bloodshot eyes and a blank stare, and was not responsive to questions.
Michael Tyler Jacques (left and right) was heavily intoxicated when police in Bend, Oregon pulled him over on December 23, 2016, in a traffic stop that turned deadly
Tisher drew his gun immediately, later telling investigators: ‘I knew this was more than a traffic complaint,’ Tisher said. ‘I knew this was something that needed to be stopped.’
Schaier then opened the driver side door, and Jacques took his hand off the wheel and reached toward the right side.
Schaier reached to grab Jacques’ arm, and Jacques pulled Schaier into the van and began striking him on the head with his fist.
Then Schaier freed himself and deployed his Taser on Jacques, but was shocked to see the suspect pull the electric probes out.
‘It’s very alarming to see somebody that knows enough and has enough strength and mindset to take the Taser probes out to prevent the Taser, to defeat the Taser,’ he later told investigators.
Officer Tisher is seen using his Taser on the suspect after Jacques pulled out the electric probes the first time he was tased
The two officers were trying to pull Jacques from the vehicle when he stepped on the gas
Schaier (right) is seen firing on the suspect as Tisher ducks away from the confrontation
Tisher then used his Taser on the suspect as well and Schaier sprayed pepper gel in the suspect’s eyes.
The van, which had been in drive throughout the encounter, then rolled forward and Schaier said he felt something on the car catch against his utility vest and pull him forward.
The newly released video shows the wheels of the van spinning on the ice as Jacques attempted to accelerate.
Schaier dropped his pepper spray, drew his 9mm handgun and fired five shots. Two struck Jacques in his shoulder and head, striking Jacques and killing him.
A blood test showed Jacques had a 0.24 blood alcohol content when he died, three times the legal limit.
A state DoJ investigation cleared the two officers of wrongdoing and they will not be criminally charged.
A lawyer for Jacques family says they plan to file a civil lawsuit against the Bend police.
‘Simply because the Department of Justice did not find criminality does not mean that this officer did not have a choice,’ Jennifer Coughlin told the Bulletin. ‘And that is now our job to pursue on behalf of this family.’