Firemen shock teen with Taser 9 times during Christmas party, deputies say | Crime

EAST SPENCER, NC (WBTV) - Two high-ranking firefighters and a police officer are facing charges after a teenager was reportedly shocked nine times at the fire department's Christmas party.

According to Chief David Ramsey, East Spencer Fire Chief Shane Cranfield and former fire chief Allen Carlyle used a police officer's Taser on a volunteer firefighter at the fire department's Christmas party on December 10. The officer, 40-year-old James Lambeth, was on-duty at the time of the incident, Ramsey told WBTV.

The drive stun, which is held to a person's skin, was used at least nine times on 18-year-old John Resino, a student at North Rowan High School in Salisbury. Resino is a East Spencer volunteer fireman, according to the Sheriff's report.

The volunteer firefighter reportedly ran out of the room to get away from the firefighters, but Ramsey says witnesses told deputies that Cranfield and Carlyle broke the door’s handle and stunned the teen.

Investigators say Lambeth's department-issued Taser X-26 was discharged 18 times within three minutes.

Resino was not taken to the hospital, Ramsey said.

East Spencer Police investigated the incident and handed over their findings to Rowan County Sheriff's Office.

Lambeth reportedly resigned from the East Spencer Police Department on December 15. He is facing charges of failure to discharge duty for not stopping the assault, Ramsey told WBTV.

Cranfield and Carlyle are facing assault charges. Chief Ramsey told WBTV that warrants have been issued for all three men and they are expected to be arrested Thursday night and Friday.

The East Spencer Fire Department website lists Carlyle as the current chief and Cranfield as an assistant chief.