A 2006 UCLA graduate present at the tasing, David Remensnitsky, told The Daily Bruin, "It was the most disgusting and vile act I had ever seen in my life." UCLA senior Laila Gordy added, "It's a shock that something like this can happen at UCLA. It was unnecessary what they did."
It is still unclear whether Tabatabainejad was a victim of racial profiling either by the CSOs who requested him produce identification or the UCPD who used force. In an attempt to justify its use of force, a UCPD press release explained, "As the officers attempted to escort [Tabatabainejad] out, he went limp and continued to refuse to cooperate with officers or leave the building. Tabatabainejad encouraged library patrons to join in his resistance … The officers deemed it necessary to use the Taser in a 'drive stun' capacity." The press release further expressed that Tasers are used "to momentarily incapacitate subjects who are resistant by discharging an electronic current into the subject."
A video of the incident on YouTube begins suddenly with Tabatabainejad shouting "Don't touch me!" multiple times at the police. The student with the camera immediately leaves his carrel to pursue coverage of the unfolding drama. As the officers grab onto Tabatabainejad's body to escort him from the library, he shouts, "Let go of me!"
Hearing Tabatabainejad's yelps, screams, cries and coughs, students in the computer center abandon their carrels to watch the action. "Here's your Patriot Act! Here's your fucking …" yells Tabatabainejad. He tells the police as he falls to the ground, "I got tased for no reason. I will leave this god-forsaken place … You're abusing your power … Fuck off."
The video goes on to show students in the library rushing from the computer center to the stairwell where Tabatabainejad thrashes on the ground. "Get up or you'll get tased again," barks an angry cop at Tabatabainejad. "I'll leave! I'll leave! I said I will leave!" wails Tabatabainejad. The video also catches onlooking students complaining that the officers are abusing their authority, with several going as far as to request the officers' badge identification numbers.
As Tabatabainejad squirms violently in the officers' grip for another minute, the police tase him again. The student witnesses then barge inward, bombarding the police with expletives. In an atrium-like stairwell setting in the beautiful Romesque library, students from the other side of the building watch as Tabatabainejad wails and hyperventilates on the ground for another couple of minutes before being fully detained by the police.
In the aftermath of the incident and the spread of the video on the Internet, UCLA students came out in protest at the perceived brutality of the officers involved. On Nov. 17, Acting Chancellor of the University Norman Abrams held a press conference to elaborate the administration's response. "After careful deliberation, I have decided to accept the recommendation of Police Chief Karl Ross and my senior advisors to establish an independent investigation of this incident," stated Abrams.
He also explained that the UCPD would continue its own investigation. Abrams concluded, "Student safety and treatment are of paramount concern at UCLA. I am committed, as well, to our country's system of due process, which counsels that we not rush to judgment … I am confident that the review process that is being undertaken will allow us to reach a fair, appropriate and just conclusion."
The mailboxes of The Daily Bruin have since been flooded with letters and editorials commenting on the incident and the UCPD's actions. The investigation has yet to come to any definitive conclusions.