Old man with hands up tasered by US police

Authorities in Florida are investigating an incident where an elderly man with his hands up was tasered by police.

Bystanders posted a video to Facebook on Sunday showing Florida Highway Patrol officers ordering people out of a minivan that was parked on the side of a road.

"They are trying to get these people of this car, sweetie. I don't know why. It's kind of weird," a woman says to a young girl off-camera, after the girl asks what the officers are doing.

An old man emerges from the van with his hands up, while holding what appears to be a mobile phone.

He then screams and falls face first onto the concrete after he is tasered by one of the officers.

"Oh, God," the woman says. "He's just an old man!"

"They tasered him! "Is he alive? He's all limp."

The officers then handcuff the man, who appeared to have passed out.

Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Captain Nancy Rasmussen confirmed the incident had occurred but declined to comment.

"The incident is currently under investigation," Ms Rasmussen said.

The company that makes the weapon used, Taser International, warns against using its devices on the elderly because they are of higher risk of suffering a cardiac arrest.

Source: Miami New Times