Former SEPTA police officer charged with excessive use of Taser on unruly bus rider
A former SEPTA Transit Police officer is facing multiple criminal charges stemming from an April incident in which he allegedly used a Taser repeatedly on a bus rider who was making verbal threats against SEPTA employees, officials said Monday.
Floyd Whitaker, 59, was placed on administrative duty following the April 12 incident at the Frankford Transportation Center.
Whitaker, who had been a SEPTA Transit Police officer for 24 years, was called to the station in Northeast Philadelphia around 4:20 a.m. that day for a report of a man who was refusing to leave a bus. The man allegedly made multiple threats of violence against other SEPTA staff, authorities said.
Further investigation found that Whitaker allegedly used his Taser on the man once and then continued to do so without giving the passenger a chance to comply with his verbal orders to exit the bus. The passenger allegedly had fallen to the ground after the first time he was Tased. He was not armed and did not engage in any physical altercations with anyone, officials said.
Read more: https://www.phillyvoice.com/septa-transit-police-officer-charged-floyd-whitaker-taser-frankford/