What are sheriff’s deputies doing tasering an unarmed man in jail?

According to Sentinel reports, on September 18th, Santa Cruz Sheriff Robbins’ Deputies tasered* David Anthony Cross inside the Santa Cruz County Jail, alleged to “control� him after he began banging his head on the cell door and “acting irrationally.� The five second “stun� charge of 50,000 volts was applied directly to his shoulder “once or twice� rather than at a distance, according to Lt. Phil Wowak.

In April, Santa Cruz Mayor Mike Rotkin refused to direct the police department to open its records regarding taser use. On September 24th, a Public Records Act request was filed with the City, seeking to determine how widespread police use of tasers is.