Fired Officer Enters Plea of Not Guilty in Taser Gun Case

A Gardena police lieutenant who has been fired from the force pleaded not guilty Thursday to illegally using a Taser stun gun to assault a prisoner, authorities said.

Jeffrey Finley, 40, was one of six officers who struggled with Richard Marone, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound man who had been arrested during a domestic dispute last October, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Eloise Phillips.

Marone struggled while being arrested but never attempted to hit or swing at the officers, Phillips said.

“Officers were able to handcuff him without using a Taser they had available,” she said.

Marone did not attempt to assault the officers while they were handcuffing him, Phillips said. Finley, however, took the Taser from another officer and fired it at the man, she said. After shocking him with electric current from the gun three times, Finley asked the suspect, “Had enough?” Phillips said.

Finley, who is charged with assault under the color of authority, could be sentenced up to three years if convicted. He is free on his own recognizance and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 28 in Municipal Court.