Deputies Tase Domestic Violence Suspect

November 19, 2013

An Escambia County deputy was forced to tase a Century man in order to subdue him following an alleged domestic violence incident Saturday night.

Emanuel Rabun Bethea, 27, was charged with domestic violence related battery, kidnapping-false imprisonment and resisting an officer with violence following the incident on Jack Smith Road, off Highway 168 outside Century.

An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was first to arrive in his marked patrol vehicle after a disturbance call in the 7500 block of Jack Smith Road. He watched as someone attempted to flee as he approached, spinning tires in a circular driveway, accelerating and running over a tree stump. Bethea exited the vehicle and ran, fell in the gravel driveway, got up and ran again despite multiple verbal commands from the deputy to stop. When Bethea fell again, he was tackled by the deputy.

According to an arrest report, Bethea refused to place his hands behind his back as ordered, instead he tried to reach his pocket multiple times. The deputy, not knowing what Bethea was  trying to retrieve from his pocket, ordered him to stop or be tased. He refused to comply  and was tased once before the deputy managed to handcuff one hand. Bethea continued to resist and another deputy arrived on scene and assisted in handcuffing him, according to the report.

During the struggle, Bethea reported told the deputy “just shoot me” multiple times. After Bethea was taken into custody, a folding pocket knife was located next to his leg. Bethea continued to fight deputies as he was placed in a patrol vehicle, the report states.

The female victim told deputies that she and Bethea live together at the Jack Smith Road address and that they have a child together. She said Bethea refused to allow her to leave the residence, grabbed her and took her cell phone while he prevented her from using the couple’s only vehicle.

Bethea was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital before being booked into the Escambia County Jail.  The arresting deputy noted that Bethea was cooperative, polite and apologetic at the hospital. He remained in the Escambia County Jail early Tuesday morning with bond set at $7,500.

Comments

5 Responses to “Deputies Tase Domestic Violence Suspect”

  1. me on March 24th, 2014 10:49 am

    thanks well said Cheryl B Hicks…

  2. just saying on November 21st, 2013 1:24 am

    keep slapping them on the wrist!!!!

    http://www.northescambia.com/2010/02/flomaton-man-arrested-in-florida-for-violating-probation-on-drug-charges

  3. Cheryl B. Hicks on November 19th, 2013 8:42 am

    This is sad… I knew him as a young man, he and my children attended school together. There is a time in everyones life that they need to stop the fulishness and grow up. I lived in a bad marriage for years getting hit, cursed, shot at and then finally getting acused of things I wasn’t nor had I ever though of doing… I do not know this young lady whom he has a child with but I would like to tell her, he is not the only person ( I did not call him a man, because a real man would not act like this) in this world that will love her and give to her and her child as they need and want. If things cannot be resolve one of you, either of you, GET OUT before you or your child gets hurt. And what about what the child is seeing – take care of yourselves. This doesn’t just effect you , it effects your families too! My prayers are with you ALL! Take care of the child – please!

  4. Esc co LEO on November 19th, 2013 8:41 am

    The amount of force used is dictated by the SUSPECT’s actions. Deadly force was not used in this case because he was not a threat to the life of the deputy. Had he gotten that knife out, it would have been a different ending.

  5. Rebel L. Howard on November 19th, 2013 7:10 am

    That’s how its done. Tasers work if they’re utilized instead of deadly force.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News