Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Police say Tasing of naked, alleged mentally ill man justified
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 8 years ago on
February 20, 2017

Share

It was Super Bowl Sunday, and a naked man was spotted walking on Blackstone Avenue, north of Herndon. He was sitting naked at a bus stop and later complied with Fresno police without an incident. He was taken to Community Regional Medical Center for a mental evaluation.

Two days later on February 7, that same man encounters police under similar circumstance. He is naked. He is walking along the street, this time, near Fresno Street & Indianapolis Avenue. A video, initially posted on Facebook shows at least four Fresno police officers around him as he continued forward.

“He was walking as if nothing was wrong. Bare naked, no clothes whatsoever,” witnessed Irma Sigala. who lives in the area.

Police say the estimated 6’6”, 260-pound Buchnoff was making verbal threats. According to Deputy Chief Lydia Carrasco, officers ordered Buchnoff to stop after spotting him at Ashlan & Fresno. He continued walking, allegedly saying “he was going to make it rough” for them. He was not complying with repeated orders to stop and refused commands. “He appeared very angry. His fists were clenched. The officers were concerned that he was going to become combative because he was not complying with their orders to stop.” Then the officers deployed the Tasers seen in the video.

The video, shot by Yvonne Marie, shows 38-year old Scott Buchnoff falling forward as he is being Tased. Sources tell GV Wire that he has mental health issues and is a dependent of the county. Officials at the Fresno County Department Behavioral Health would not confirm, citing privacy issues.

Sigala tells GV Wire what she observed. “He was not threatening or nothing. He was just walking quickly. His hands were as if he were marching with his hands to the side.”

Cynthia Murphy, a girl who lives in the same home as Sigala, concurs that Buchnoff was just staying quiet, walking. “What came to my head was that he had mental issues or something,” Murphy says.

Buchnoff was transferred to CRMC and cited for resisting arrest. According to Steve Wright with the county District Attorney’s office, they have not received any criminal complaint from the police.

Carrasco says Buchnoff told officers he was hearing voices to take his clothes off. She said the deployment of the Taser is justified because officers feared for their safety. “The subject is a very large man. All of those things led to officers to deploy the Taser. The deployment of the Taser was withing policy.”

Sigala had mixed feelings about the Taser’s use. She didn’t want Buchnoff to be Tased, but felt police needed to do something to get him off the street.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Trump Considers Massive Extension of Travel Ban Targeting Up to 43 Countries

DON'T MISS

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

DON'T MISS

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

DON'T MISS

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

DON'T MISS

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

DON'T MISS

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

DON'T MISS

A Loophole in California Law Makes It Hard to Prosecute Threats Against Schools. Will Lawmakers Close It?

DON'T MISS

Rubio Says South Africa’s Ambassador to the US ‘Is No Longer Welcome’ in the Country

DON'T MISS

Dodgers’ Star Mookie Betts Sidelined in Japan With Flu-Like Symptoms

DON'T MISS

US Imposes Sanctions on Thai Officials After Uyghur Men Are Deported to China

UP NEXT

Meet Millie: The Sweetest Dog You’ll Ever Meet

UP NEXT

River Park Farmers Market Nears Milestone: 7 Million Customers

UP NEXT

Meet Tulare County’s New Health Officer: Dr. Asma Tariq

UP NEXT

Tulare Police Arrest Eight in Gang Suppression Operation

UP NEXT

Feds Drop Gun Charge Against Capitol Rioter Benjamin Martin

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Jared Emerson Malan

UP NEXT

Multi-Platinum Artist Chris Young to Bring Country Hits to Tachi Palace

UP NEXT

Smoke Shop Ordinance Eludes Divided Fresno City Council

UP NEXT

Peach Pits? No Name for SE Fresno Sports Complex for Now

UP NEXT

Atmospheric River Soaks Fresno With 1.5 Inches of Rain and More Ahead

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

2 hours ago

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

3 hours ago

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

3 hours ago

A Loophole in California Law Makes It Hard to Prosecute Threats Against Schools. Will Lawmakers Close It?

3 hours ago

Rubio Says South Africa’s Ambassador to the US ‘Is No Longer Welcome’ in the Country

3 hours ago

Dodgers’ Star Mookie Betts Sidelined in Japan With Flu-Like Symptoms

4 hours ago

US Imposes Sanctions on Thai Officials After Uyghur Men Are Deported to China

4 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani Hits 2-Run HR in Return to Japan Against Yomiuri Giants

4 hours ago

Polish PM Offers Jesse Eisenberg Military Training for ‘James Bond’ Role

4 hours ago

Voters Flood Town Halls With Fears of Social Security Cuts, Putting Heat on GOP

4 hours ago

Trump Considers Massive Extension of Travel Ban Targeting Up to 43 Countries

President Donald Trump is reportedly contemplating a new travel ban that could affect citizens from up to 43 countries. This potential expan...

1 hour ago

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Pool via AP)
1 hour ago

Trump Considers Massive Extension of Travel Ban Targeting Up to 43 Countries

1 hour ago

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

2 hours ago

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

2 hours ago

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

3 hours ago

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

3 hours ago

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

3 hours ago

A Loophole in California Law Makes It Hard to Prosecute Threats Against Schools. Will Lawmakers Close It?

3 hours ago

Rubio Says South Africa’s Ambassador to the US ‘Is No Longer Welcome’ in the Country

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend