Taser used in campus arrest

Officers Tased a student multiple times in front of Hinton James Residence Hall after he resisted police Tuesday night said five students who witnessed his arrest.

The student first-year Frank Fraboni18" was ""acting strangely"" and found to be under the influence of drugs"" the police report states.

Student witnesses said police Tased Fraboni after he made attempts to get away and otherwise resist arrest.

He was taken to UNC Hospitals and released Wednesday. He will have to appear before the Honor Court.

""It looked like a movie. They finally got him down and Tasered him"" first-year Kaylee Baker said. I was genuinely scared. He was screaming.""

Fraboni said he was Tased three times"" at least once on the chest.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Randy Young said officers Tased him after trying lesser uses of force.

""It's going to be a well-trained officer's discretion in the field as to what's the best option for the suspect being apprehended"" Young said. This was used as a resort to prevent injury to the suspect.""

Campus police were called after Fraboni approached first-year Rachel Hamlin as she went to retrieve her laundry. Hamlin said Fraboni was standing outside the laundry room door and was not wearing a shirt.

""I thought he was drunk"" Hamlin said. He put his arm around me and I didn't know him at all. He was just really incredibly out of it.""

Hamlin took Fraboni to the resident adviser on duty in the Hinton James lobby"" who then called the police after Fraboni could not give his name and left the building.

First-year R.J. Yost said Fraboni kept trying to get away from officers and was yelling incomprehensibly.

""They finished putting cuffs on him and then he kept trying to get away so they Tased him to get him to stop"" Yost said. Then he looked like he was trying to get away again so they Tased him again.""

First-year Ben Buck also saw the Tasing.

""They were just having him do the ‘put your hands behind your back and be unthreatening' thing" and he wasn't doing it" Buck said.

The police report did not mention that Fraboni was Tased. Young said any use of force"" reports in the case would be internal within DPS.

Police officials review any use of force" Young said.



Staff Writer Gabby Pinto
contributed reporting.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.