Officer used Taser on man, here’s why Columbia police say she was justified
A man is in jail after he was arrested on multiple charges Monday, including assaulting a police officer, which prompted her to use a Taser to restrain the 64-year-old, according to the Columbia Police Department.
Video of the officer deploying a department-issued electronic control device on Wesley L. Haltiwanger has been posted on social media, but what is shown in the clip “does not reflect the full circumstances of the incident,” police said Tuesday night in a news release.
Police said they are now releasing the facts “for clarity purposes.”
The incident happened at about 4:30 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of Harbison Boulevard, according to the release. That’s a heavy traffic area near the intersection of Columbiana Drive, between Columbiana Centre and a popular Chick fil-A restaurant.
The officer made contact with Haltiwanger after she saw him walking in the road, police said.
Haltiwanger was holding a sign asking for money and approaching vehicles, posing a safety risk, according to the release. It was the second time law enforcement officers encountered Haltiwanger that day for similar violations, police said. Information about the outcome of the previous encounter was not available.
Haltiwanger refused repeated verbal commands from the officer to leave the road, and as she tried to place Haltiwanger in handcuffs, he resisted arrest and assaulted the officer by injuring her hand, according to the release.
This caused the officer to respond by using her Taser on Haltiwanger to gain control of him, according to the release.
Police said the officer’s use of the Taser “was reasonable, necessary, and proportional to the use of force continuum.”
Chief Skip Holbrook elaborated, saying in the release “The Columbia Police Department has zero tolerance for assaults on officers. Individuals who choose to resist arrest or attack law enforcement will be held accountable.”
The officer called for assistance and Haltiwanger was arrested, according to the release. As a precaution, EMS was called to ensure that Haltiwanger wasn’t injured during the incident, but he refused medical services, police said.
Further information on the officer’s injury and her condition was not available.
No other injuries were reported.
Haltiwanger was taken to the Lexington County Detention Center, where he was charged with assault on a police officer while resisting arrest, threatening the life of a public official, failure to stop on police command, pedestrian unlawfully in the roadway and begging (obstruction of vehicular traffic), according to the release.
His bond was set at $10,747.50 on the combined charges, but Haltiwanger remains locked up, jail records show.
Haltiwanger has a criminal history of similar violations, as well as drug violations, public disorderly conduct, soliciting and aggressive begging, police said.
The incident is being reviewed, which is department protocol for all use of force incidents, according to the release. It was not clear if it is an internal review, or if another law enforcement agency is investigating the incident.
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This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 7:58 AM.
