A routine call took a sharp and unfortunate turn Wednesday afternoon when an officer’s quick assumption resulted in a major — and entirely preventable — error.
Police officials reported that Officer Dylan Marks, a three-year member of the force, was dispatched to check on a “suspicious individual” seen behind a strip of closed businesses. When he arrived, Marks spotted a man looking through a dumpster and, suspecting a possible break-in attempt, loudly ordered him to step away.
The man turned around — startled, confused, and holding only a small plastic bag. Within moments, Marks unholstered his taser, mistakenly believing the man was reaching for a weapon.
The taser discharged.
The man dropped to the ground.
And Marks instantly realized he had acted on a completely wrong assumption.
Body-cam footage later confirmed the “suspicious person” was actually Elias Turner, the building’s nighttime maintenance employee, simply taking out garbage during his shift. He had no idea officers had been called and posed no threat.
Paramedics treated Turner, who fortunately sustained only minor injuries, but the emotional and professional fallout was immediate.
Marks reported the mistake himself, and the department placed him on administrative leave soon after. In a press conference, the police chief labeled the incident “deeply concerning” and admitted that “poor communication and a rush to judgment resulted in an unnecessary use of force.”
Turner, while clearly upset, remained calm.
“I was just doing my job,” he said. “I shouldn’t be tased for throwing out trash.”
The department has opened an internal investigation and announced plans for refreshed training on threat recognition and de-escalation techniques.
For Officer Marks, the repercussions are still developing. And for the community, the event stands as a stark reminder of how fast a situation can go wrong — and why careful observation and patience are essential in law enforcement.
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