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UPDATE: Deputy taser investigation

By WINK News

UPDATE:
LEE COUNTY, Fla. - Twenty-four hours after an Internal Affairs investigation was launched into a videotape showing a Lee County Sheriff's deputy tasing at least two friends, it was wrapped up.

The Sheriff's Office now taking action against the man in the video, identified as Corporal Mike DeTar, Jr.

The video of the tasing incident was released to the media by DeTar, Jr.'s. ex-fiance, Lisa Cohen.

The two are in the middle of a bitter break-up and legal battle.

"It was a whole macho thing," said Cohen of the night the video was taken, "Who could take it...who couldn't."

Cohen...tells WINK NEWS .the video was taken during a Superbowl party at the house the couple shared.

"Everybody was intoxicated," she said.

We asked her why she's turning the video in now,

She said, "My concern is everything you hear a complaint about tasers, it's either alcohol induced or drug related. These people die at this point and this is when he was tasing these people."

But Cohen was the one holding the camera and could be clearly heard laughing the whole time.

In the video, Detar, Jr. asked her, "You ready?" pointing the taser toward his friends leg.

She can be heard yelling back, "Yeah..let's see it."

At that moment, Cpl. Detar is seen activating the taser and his friend groans. That's when you hear COhen laugh uncontrollably and say,"I love our parties!"

It's not just her "concern" in her reasoning to release the tape to the media. She and Detar, Jr. are in the middle of a vicious break up, as quoted in the Internal Affairs report.

The day she turned the video over to the media, Cohen was in court for charges Detar Jr. filled against her. He is claiming she installed spy-ware on his computer, which could allow her access to his e-mail, bank accounts and passwords.

Cohen tells WINK News it was her computer and she did it to find out if he was cheating.

Regardless of her motives in releasing the tape, Sheriff Mike Scott says Detar Junior's behavior on the tape was unacceptable and swift action was taken to punish the corporal.

"in this case, a picture is worth a thousand words...we've got the video. We've got his acknowledgment so there's really not a lot else to do," said the Sheriff.

Corporal Detar, Jr. was found in violation of conduct and use of weapons policies and was immediately suspended for two weeks without pay and ordered to attend mandatory taser re-training.

Sheriff Scott says he feels the punishment is adequate due to Detar's record with the Sheriff's Office and the fact it clearly appears in the tape, the friends asked to be tased.

Still, he the entire incident embarrassing.

"On behalf of the agency, I am apologetic and I think we have a very clear understanding with Mr. Detar his decision was ill advised and I certainly don't think it will happen again," said Sheriff Scott.











LEE COUNTY, Fla. - An update to a story we first told you about Monday night.

WINK News spoke with the Lee County Sheriff's office by phone regarding video, allegedly, showing a Lee Sheriff's deputy tasering people at a party.

The video was released by the man's ex-fiance.

Published reports indicate the man was identified by the sheriff's office as a deputy. However, the Sheriff's office just now says it cannot confirm the identity of the man in the video.

It did however say there is an Internal Affairs investigation underway, not confirming what that investigation is about.

Trust WINK News to continue following the story and to bring you updates, as soon as they become available.
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