WASHINGTON — A Fredericksburg police officer has resigned after attempting to tase and then using his pepper spray on a 34-year-old man who was suffering from a medical emergency during a traffic stop.
The Fredericksburg Police Department said Thursday that the incident occurred on May 4, near the intersection of Cowan Boulevard and Powhatan Street just off of Route 1.
Two police officers initially responded to a call for a hit and run and reckless driving on Route 1 near the University of Mary Washington pedestrian bridge. The driver of the Jeep that had been hit by a Hyundai and another witness said the other driver had also swerved over the median on Route 1 and knocked down a road sign.
Those two officers came up to the Hyundai at Cowan Boulevard and Powatan Street with guns drawn and ordered the driver out of his car.
The man did not get out, and a third officer arrived a short time later.
That third officer, Shaun Jurgens, used his Taser on the man, but it did not work properly. Jurgens then pepper sprayed the man. Only then did Jurgens and one of the other officers on scene pull the man from the car.
When an ambulance took the man to the hospital, police say doctors found the man was “experiencing a medical emergency that had commenced at some point in the preceding hours”.
Commanders found the use of force was not appropriate in the incident, and Officer Shaun Jurgens resigned from the department last Thursday.
The driver of the Hyundai is still facing charges for hit and run, reckless driving and driving on a revoked or suspended license for at least the third time.
