Bedridden and on oxygen, Lona Varner of El Reno, Oklahoma, was zapped by police using Taser guns after she acted in an “aggressive” manner in her bed. Officers showed up at Varner’s residence after her grandson, Lonnie Tinsley, called 911 seeking medical assistance for his grandmother. But instead of helping the 86-year-old woman, police officers Thomas Duran and Joseph Sandberg Tasered her, causing her to pass out. “Don’t Taze my granny!” Tinsley says he shouted at the officers, who also are accused of stepping on Varner’s oxygen hose.

Varner was taken to a hospital with burn marks on her chest. She was then placed in a psychiatric ward in Oklahoma City for six days before being released. Tinsley and Varner are suing the police officers and the city of El Reno for $75,000 in damages.

According to the police, Varner was suicidal and threatened them with a kitchen knife that she pulled out from underneath her pillow.

- David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff