Student Tasered By UCLA Police Department

LOS ANGELES, November 15, 2006 -- A 23-year-old student was administered multiple taser shocks by UCLA Police Department officers in the Powell Library computer lab, it was reported Wednesday.

Video shot from another student's camera phone shows the man screaming while on the floor of the computer lab as officers tasered him at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Daily Bruin.

He had been working at a computer in the back of the lab and had failed to produce a student ID during a random check performed by community service officers.

According to a UCLA police sergeant, the student was identified as Mostafa Tabatabainejad of Los Angeles.

He was given a citation for obstruction/delay of a peace officer in the performance of duty and then released from custody, the sergeant said.

The sergeant said he saw Tabatabainejad after it happened and that he did not appear to have suffered serious injury.

"If he was able to walk out of here, I think he was OK," the sergeant said.

Officers were escorting Tabatabainejad out of the computer lab when the trouble started. One of the officers placed a hand on one of his arms, which the student objected to.

As a second officer approached, he repeatedly yelled "get off of me."

It was then that one of the officers shot Tabatabainejad with a taser gun, dropping him to the floor as he cried out.

Officers told Tabatabainejad to stand up and stop struggling, which he allegedly refused to do. He was then tasered at least once more and taken into custody.

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