The Right to Resist
John Coffin, 56, from Sarasota, Florida, heard his wife scream from their garage. He ran to the garage and saw two Sheriff Deputies pinning his wife to the floor.
The deputies were trying to serve Coffin with civil papers. They entered the garage without a search warrant or arrest warrant.
Coffin jumped on the two deputies, wrestling a Taser from one and used it to knock the deputy out by hitting him in the head two or three times with the butt of the Taser.
Coffin and his wife were eventually arrested. They charged his wife with obstruction even though she was under no obligation to follow their orders to bring her husband outside.
Prosecutors asked for over a year of prison time. A jury was selected, but before the trial began, the judge acquitted John Coffin on five of six felony charges. Coffin pleaded no contest to the remaining charge of taking a Taser from one of the deputies during the fight.
The judge let Coffin off with timed serve, for the last charge, which was 8 days in jail. He also had to pay $358 for court costs.
The judge said that the deputies broke the law by stopping the garage door from going down and then entering the garage. He also said that Mr. Coffin had a right to resist.
Now, I’m a strong supporter of the police, but, besides being individuals they are also an arm of the government. This is validation that an citizen still has rights, when it comes to his home and property, that should be inviolate even by the police.
Laura Hite
Way to go Mr Coffin!
Steven Blackmun
Might have been even easier for Mr. Coffin if he had his own Taser.
Stephen Passwater
Mr. Coffin did the right thing in standing up. It strikes a blow in the fight for upholding our constitutional rights.
Thomas Kersten
I don’t see the reason that he was charged for taking the taser either.
He saw his wife being assaulted, irregardless or the fact that it was police doing it, and I believe that he had the right to defend himself and his wife any way that was avilable.
Bill Lewis
Goes to show you, the constitution is still being upheld. Citizens still have a right to protect their property, bear arms, and safeguards against unreasonable search and seizure. God Bless America!!
SafetyMode Systems
Mr. Coffin did what most people would do!
Orion Self Defense
I would have done the same without thinking twice. It’s your life…defend it.
Murray Vick
In this case, I think the deputies should pay the court cost, nor Mr Coffin
tazer stun gun
WOW, Mr. Coffin is hard core!!
TASER C2
I would like to think that all men would react the same way in protecting their wives. As the boy scouts say – Be Prepared!
Justin Bambico
Way to go Mr. Coffin! Its nice to see that there are still Americans that know their rights, he knew he wasnt in the wrong, and knowing is half the battle!
Taser X26C, Taser C2
Way to go Mr. Coffin
Taserdude
I think Mr. Coffin did what every law abiding citizen should do, know and exercise your rights. He might think about getting a Taser to keep in the house if he needs to defend his wife or home again.
http://www.defensedevices.com/tasers.html
It still appears Mr. Coffin was shorted by the Courts unless there are circumstances we are not aware of.
Good thing it was a Taser and not a handgun.
Tasers and stun guns
Even the police have to obey the laws.
Self Defense Pepper Spray
Can you say lawsuit?
Tasers
Do we really have any rights? We are NOT supposed to break the law but police can do it without repercusion. If they needed a warrant where was it?
Christopher@protectionstuff.com