After he nearly plowed into an officer, a man was chased down and tased by police. Identified as 36-year-old Joseph Solinger, the driver sped past a traffic accident scene in front of the Columbus Zoo while police officers were directing traffic around 2 p.m. Friday, WSYX reported.
Solinger was directed to stop, bodycam footage shows.
“I’m trying to get to my wife and kids,” he tells the officer.
“OK, and you think that trying to kill somebody is the way to do that,” the cop yells as he asks for his driver’s license.
The man takes off. Several police officers chase after the man for driving off in his jeep.
The vehicle is stopped again moments later as the man tries to enter the zoo’s parking lot.
Again, the hurried father speeds off and nearly hits a trooper.
Solinger is then chased down by the officer who initially confronted him.
“He’s not being compliant. Probably gonna have to Taser use,” he says on the radio.
The cop finally zaps the wreckless dad. After he is tased, Solinger fell backward to the ground. The man apologizes as he is cuffed.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It’s just about my wife and kids,” he says. “And I love you guys, and I know you don’t mean to hurt me.”
When a cop asks him why he didn’t listen to them, he says, “Because it wasn’t about me, it was about my wife and kids.”
“Well, guess what? Now it’s about you,” says the officer.
“It’s nirvana and I’m not going to hurt you,” Solinger says. “You’re going to help me — and I love you. It’s not about you now — there’s a time for that.”
The reckless driver has been hit with many charges, including failure to comply, inducing panic, misconduct at an emergency, driving while under the influence, reckless operation, resisting arrest, and obstructing official, WSYX reported, citing the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office.