West Virginia Officer Fired for Using Taser on Pregnant Teen, Firefighter

EAST BANK, W.Va. – A Kanawha County police officer has been fired after he admitted using a Taser on a pregnant teenager and a firefighter.

East Bank Mayor Chuck Blair says Sgt. Steve Smith was fired after the Town Council learned of the incidents in September. Smith had been on probation because he had not been an officer for more than a year.

Eighteen-year-old Candice White told the Council she was sitting on her porch when Smith, who is a friend of her mother, showed up and began playing around with the Taser. She says Smith used it on her leg several times.

Smith told the Council White had asked him to use the Taser on her and that the power setting was very low.

An East Bank volunteer firefighter also told the Council that Smith used the Taser on him because it was his birthday.