Accused Thief Tased By Fremont Police Over Weekend

FREMONT, CA — Fremont Police used a taser on an uncooperative suspect Saturday night. The man, 34-year-old Kristen Lagrone of Richmond, was arrested on suspicion of theft, obstructing/resisting arrest and a probation violation.

According to FPD, a police sergeant in his patrol car was at the Chevron Gas Station at Stevenson Boulevard and Paseo Padre Parkway waiting in line for a car wash around 6 p.m. when he noticed a commotion near the front door of the business. A store clerk was yelling at a man to "stop." The sergeant also ordered the man to stop and asked the clerk what was going on. The clerk told the sergeant the man was walking away with two large beers he hadn’t paid for. The sergeant asked the store clerk if he wanted him arrested and he replied, "yes."

Meanwhile, the man had continued walking. The police sergeant informed dispatch of the incident and requested backup. According to FPD, "The sergeant followed the man in his patrol car as he continued to walk away despite being told to stop and put the items down multiple times. With the patrol vehicle’s emergency lights activated, the sergeant pulled ahead of the man and exited his patrol car. He again ordered the man to stop. The man turned around and began walking the other way. The sergeant unholstered his Taser and told the man he was going to use it if he continued to disobey orders to stop. The man continued to disobey all orders. Fearing the man was going to run into traffic and/or turn around and fight, he deployed his Taser."

Another officer who arrived at the scene placed the man in handcuffs.

One probe of the Taser penetrated Lagrone on the right side of his back. He was treated at the scene by Fremont Fire Department paramedics and medically cleared before being booked into Santa Rita Jail.

Lagrone was found to be on probation for two separate prior arrests, including one for theft. Both in-car camera and body-worn camera video of this case are available.

The police department posted the above explanation on Facebook "to clarify information regarding (the) theft incident ... Contrary to what has been posted on social media, our officers were not involved in a shooting and the incident did not involve a juvenile."

Readers were quick with words of encouragement and support, including, "Thank you FPD for doing your job keeping us safe! We support the Blue."...."Well done FPD. Thank you for keeping our city safe. It’s a shame tho that you needed to post an explanation of this event because of social media lies. Keep up the good work."...and..."Clean up Fremont !!"

However, one reader questioned the use of a taser "simply for continuing to walk away?" She was challenged in her opinion by multiple readers.

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