Stopped for Walking? And tased!

[Sleeper]

This is a really really strange incident that happened to me the other day when walking home from a bar. I was walking alone, quietly and calmly, not staggering or acting in a strange manner. The only thing that could have possibly provoked them was that when I was crossing the road, I picked up a rock that I thought looked cool. After realizing it wasnt that great, I dinged it off of the No U turn sign in the middle of the road (that I was walking past about 6 ft away). Obviously not damaging the sign or hitting any cars, as there were none in the road.

When I got across the road, I was about 500ft from my doorstep when I hear "bleep bleep".

I turn around and see two marked police vehicles behind me.

I stop and the first car approaches me and rolls down his passenger window. I lean over and here is the dialog.

Me: Hey whats up?
Cop1: What are you doing out here?
Me: (in a confused tone) um....Walking home???
Cop1: You a little agitated or something?
Me: um....no....why?
Cop1: Do you have any ID?
Me: Yes I have ID, was I doing something wrong?
Cop1: No, but I need to see your ID.
Me: Well if I wasnt doing anything wrong, are you charging me with something?
Cop1: No, but I want to know who Im talking to.
Me: Well if youre not charging me and im not doing anything wrong, then I have no reason to show you my id and theres no problem so Im going to keep walking now.

At that point, I leaned up and began walking away. I made it about 3 ft in front of his car when he jumped out of the car and yelled

Dont you disrespect ME like that!

Me: Sir, listen, Im not disrespecting you, but Im not an idiot. I am doing nothing but walking. You have no reason to stop me and the fifth amendment guarentees me anonymity so no, I will not show you my papers!

At that point,

COP2: comes from the right of the first cop quite quickly and TASES ME!

Without warning, with absolutely no provocation on my behalf, he tased me. I was about 8ft away from them at this point and was about to turn to walk away. I was not loud, agitated, cursing, or any other sort of way that would show aggression on my behalf.

I was thrown in the car, was not read my rights, was not told what I was being charged with and was detained. When I asked to speak to a lawyer and I want my phone call, they laughed and told me "I watch too much TV". When I asked how long I was to be detained they walked out of the room.

In the morning I was charged with Public Drunkeness and resisting arrest. No breathalizer was given, no blood drawn, I was given no medical treatment and in the end, when I asked what the cops names and badge numbers were, I was told that I'll recieve that in the mail. When I demanded them, I was told, "I dont care what you want, you do as I say".

So although I am not asking for advice (I have a good attorney for that), I am wondering, is it standard operating procedure to tase people these days? Is that what you are trained to do? From what I have read, the officer is supposed to give a verbal warning prior to using a taser unless the person is out of control, which I was not. Also, is it true that when hit center mass by a taser, you are supposed to receive immediate medical attention due to the risk of cardiac trauma associated with the taser?

And just for the record, I am not a violent person, I have no priors, my uncle and cousin are both cops and I have never in my life heard or could have imagined something like this coming to fruition. I have, ah hem, used to have the utmost respect for the men in blue, but now, sorry to say, I realize there are some real thugs out there and they dont warrant as much respect as I thought.

[Sarge]

WE don't use tasers in NJ. Get a lawyer!