N.C. deputy indicted on charges related to use of Taser

HYDE COUNTY, N.C.

A deputy in the Hyde County Sheriff's Office has been indicted on charges related to excessive use of a Taser on two people.

Michael Tristan Gaskill, whose age was unavailable, was charged with one count of felonious restraint and one count of simple assault in each of the two indictments handed up Monday by the grand jury in Hyde County Superior Court, Brandy Pugh, deputy court clerk, said Tuesday. The assault charges are misdemeanors.

Hyde County Sheriff David Mason said Gaskill was fired Monday. He was released on unsecured bond, said Assistant District Attorney Thomas Anglim. His court date was set for Sept. 11.

According to the indictments, Pugh said, the first incident occurred on April 8, 2008, involving Roland S. Cooper. Gaskill "willingly and feloniously restrained" him and assaulted him by "repeatedly" using a Taser, according to the indictment. The second incident happened on June 20, 2008, according to the indictment. Gaskill arrested Tyree Shanta Bond in Swan Quarter and assaulted Bond by "using a Taser on him for 24 seconds," according to the indictment.

Anglim did not elaborate on the charges.

Exact ages were not given for Bond and Cooper; they were described as at least age 16.

Mason said Tuesday he was "very upset and very disappointed."

"I don't know where it's all going," the sheriff said, "or where it's going to end."

Mason said he had not been provided any of the information from the investigation.

The sheriff said Gaskill is in his 20s and lives in Ponser. He said Gaskill was an experienced certified law enforcement officer when he was hired by Hyde County about 18 months ago.

"I don't defend anybody's wrongdoing," the sheriff said. "I'm totally against abuse against anybody."

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com