NEW SHARON — A local woman was struck with a Taser on Wednesday after she refused the commands of a deputy who was attempting to arrest her, Franklin County Chief Deputy Steven Lowell said Thursday.
Carol Murphy, 71, of 248 Lane Road, was arrested after she ignored verbal commands from Deputy Andrew Morgan, who had tried to stop her vehicle because a taillight was out, Lowell said.
Morgan attempted to stop Murphy on Lane Road and she eventually pulled into her driveway. He gave her several commands, which she ignored, Lowell said. When she started walking toward her residence, ignoring more directions from the deputy, Morgan hit her with a Taser, which knocked her to the ground, Lowell said.
She was placed under arrest and seen by NorthStar EMS personnel, but refused to be taken to a hospital to be checked, Lowell said.
In 2010, Murphy was convicted of assaulting Maine State Police Trooper Aaron Turcotte with a 975,000-volt stun gun to his face and neck when he went to her house to arrest her. She was also convicted of criminal use of an electronic weapon.
On Thursday evening, Murphy remained at the Franklin County jail in Farmington on $250 cash bail, a corrections officer said. She is charged with misdemeanor violation of condition of release, refusing to submit to arrest, refusing to stop for a police officer and refusing to sign a summons, Lowell said.
Murphy has not resolved a plenary contempt of court charge stemming from an Oct. 1, 2014, animal seizure for violating two court-ordered lifetime bans on animal possession. She was convicted in 2005 and 2010 of animal cruelty.
The state has conducted several searches of Murphy’s residence in the past year and seized 19 animals. The most recent seizure was that of a dog last week.
Murphy failed to appear in court a number of times in relation to the contempt case. Two arrest warrants were issued since her 2014 arrest because she failed to appear in court on the contempt violation. She has also failed to appear on her own motions to get her animals back.
The court approved forfeiture of 18 of the animals to the state. The most recent seizure has yet to be acted upon.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
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