Video released by COPA shows Chicago police officer use Taser on man running away during South Side traffic stop

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Video released by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability Thursday shows a man running away from Chicago police and then getting hit by a Taser.

The video shows an incident that happened during a traffic stop last November in the Chatham neighborhood.

Chicago police officer Marissa Garbacz and her partner pulled over 41-year-old Stephen Baldwin. As they tried to get more information on his ID, he took off running. Eventually, Garbacz found Baldwin underneath a stairwell.

Baldwin showed he didn't have a weapon, but as Garbacz called for backup, Baldwin decided to try to hop a fence, and that is when Garbacz decided to use her taser, saying, "Sir, I'm gonna tase you."

Baldwin fell over the fence, smacking his head on the pavement. He was treated for a brain bleed at a local hospital. He is being held in Cook County Jail on a $50,000 bond awaiting trial on felony charges of identity theft and forgery.

The incident occurred just a month after CPD revamped its Taser guidelines to discourage officers when possible from shocking people who are running away or vulnerable to injury. The officer's use of force is now under review.

The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement:

"...we cannot comment directly on the video, apart from saying that we believe releasing this video is a violation of our collective bargaining agreement.

We do, however, believe that general comments about COPA are necessary given recent developments in their investigations and evidence that they are not conducting fair, impartial investigations."

COPA said they release video within 50 days of the incident as protocol and the release is not an indication of the outcome of the investigation. COPA plans to have a recommendation within six months.

WARNING: Video has graphic images and language: