Wilkes EMS paramedics needed help from a sheriff deputy to subdue a person who was being combative this weekend. It happened yesterday morning. EMS had been called to 31-year old Billy Ray Garris' home in Milers Creek. When they called for help from the deputy, five or six people were having to hold down Garris just to keep him from attacking them. At the request of the paramedics, the deputy placed his Taser against Garris' shoulder and shocked him, stopping the struggle. However, Garris only remained calm for about 2 minutes, the deputy said, and then he was forced to use the Taser again to protect the people in the room. After handcuffing him to the stretcher, the deputy and paramedics rode with Garris to Wilkes Regional, and when he started acting up again, all it took from the deputy was a reminder, and Garris calmed down. The deputy reports doctors had to give Garris a variety of drugs in order to get him to calm down enough the deputy could leave.

See website for complete article licensing information.