Video shows cop manhandling, Tasering teen at traffic stop

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- A federal judge has released police dash camera video that shows a former police officer's confrontation that nearly cost a teenager his life, reports CBS Kansas City, Missouri affiliate KCTV.

Timothy Runnels pleaded guilty in September to violating the civil rights of then 17-year-old Bryce Masters during a 2014 traffic stop.

As part of his guilty plea, Runnels admitted that, while he was an officer of the Independence Police Department, he violated Masters' constitutional rights by deliberately dropping Masters face-first onto the ground while Masters was restrained and not posing a threat to Runnels or others.

Runnels was sentenced to four years in federal prison, which will be followed by two years of supervised release.

During a sentencing hearing, the government showed dash camera video with Runnels handcuffing the former Truman High School senior after the Taser deployment, then picking him up.

The video and other evidence presented at the sentencing demonstrates that Runnels then deliberately dropped the handcuffed victim face-first onto the pavement.

Though Masters suffered cardiac arrest and facial injuries, he survived, due to timely treatment by medical personnel at the scene and at the hospital.

The Huffington Post reports the incident also left Masters with brain damage.

"This former police officer was trained and entrusted to enforce the law impartially," said U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson. "His use of excessive force violated both the public's trust and his oath to uphold the law. Police officers are not above the law and will be held accountable when they violate the civil rights of the citizens they are sworn to protect and serve."

The government also provided evidence that Runnels deployed his Taser into the minor's chest during the traffic stop, then left the electric current running for approximately 20 seconds, four times longer than officers are trained to do so.

Runnels later apologized and said he never meant to harm Masters. He was given until Aug. 1 to surrender to federal authorities.