Police in Florida twice used a stun gun to incapacitate Los Angeles Rams running back Tre Mason during an arrest on drug and traffic charges Saturday, according to multiple media reports.
An officer started pursuing Mason when he clocked the former Auburn University star going about 75 mph in a 35 mph zone Saturday afternoon, WPLG reported. Mason swerved to avoid an accident and, after a short chase, finally stopped the 2011 Porsche he was driving near Diplomat Landing in Hollywood, the TV station reported.
He refused to get out of the Porsche. In a police report, an officer said Mason smirked while refusing to give his name or identification, the Associated Press reported. The officer smelled marijuana in the Porsche, warned Mason he would be arrested if he refused to identify himself and called for backup, according to the wire service.
The officer warned Mason he would be shot with a stun gun if he refused to comply. He continued to brace himself against the car's floor, seat and steering wheel as the officer struggled to get him out of the vehicle. Two other officers joined the effort to no avail, the AP reported, and an officer hit Mason in the torso with a Taser.
"The defendant showed unusual resistance to the first three seconds of the Taser application with little pain compliance," authorities said in a police report, according to WPLG.
He was stunned a second time in the pelvic area when he continued to resist.
After the struggle, authorities transported Mason to a local hospital because he had been stunned, the AP reported. There, bond was posted for him.
"We are very disappointed to learn of an incident involving Tre Mason in the Miami, Florida, area Saturday afternoon," the Rams said in a statement posted to NFL.com. "We are in the process of obtaining more information about the facts surrounding this incident and will have no further comment at this time."
Police arrested Mason on charges of resisting an officer, possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis, reckless driving and failure to register a motor vehicle, according to Broward County court records.
Mason was a third-round pick by the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft. The team has since announced it would be relocating to Los Angeles.
