UPDATE: Man Tasered at Mall in Madison, WI by cops!

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14 comments UPDATE: Man Tasered at Mall 12-24-07 A | A | A Updated Monday -- December 26, 2007 -- 4:39am Updated Monday -- December 24, 2007 -- 5:51pm Posted Monday --- December 24, 2007 -- 1:36pm Madison police who used a stun gun on an unarmed man this week are defending their use of force, even as the man's family threatens a lawsuit against the department. An officer used a taser, Monday, on a man identified as 44-year-old Major Lemon. Police responding to a report of a man with a gun say Lemon resisted attempts to escort him from West Towne Mall. Police Sergeant John Rife says officers tried to get information first, and only escalated the situation when they had no choice. Tara Emery-Walls is the general manager at the nearby Arby's. She thinks officers overreacted. She says there were a lot of people shopping there, including kids. One stun-gun probe hit Lemon and the other hit his wife. Relatives say the family is now considering a lawsuit. Lemon was cited for resisting and obstructing arrest. (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Concerns over a reported handgun lead to police tasering a man at West Towne Mall. On Monday afternoon squad cars surrounded an area near the food court. Madison police got a call saying there was a man with a silver handgun in the food court area at West Towne Mall. Police arrived and found a man matching the description of the person who supposedly had a gun. Police say they went up to the man and tried to talk to him and the situation escalated. John Rife of the Madison Police Department says, "There was some discussion and it appeared he was going to try to punch one of the officers. Their feet were all full of snow as you can see out here so they were trying to hold onto him and were unable to do so because of the snow and wet conditions." Police ended up using a taser to take control of the situation. The man's family members say police acted inappropriately. The man is identified as 44 year-old Major T. Lemon. Police did not find a weapon on Lemon. Police say he appeared to be fine, but they were taking him to the hospital as a precautionary measure. He was taken to St. Mary's to get checked out but has since been released. Police say they were focusing on the safety of the Lemons, other mall patrons and officers.