Tasers Used to Subdue Wanted Man in New York

Dec. 2, 2013

Members of a U.S. Marshal Felony Task Force used Tasers on a Falls man who was being uncooperative after he was found hiding under a bed's mattress on Monday morning.

The task force responded to an Eighth Street home about 10 a.m. Monday to serve a felony failure to appear warrant out of the city to Steven J. Chuilli. The group was made up of members of the Niagara County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Marshals and Niagara Falls Police Department.

Chiulli's girlfriend answered the door and told task force members he was at work but gave permission to search the home. While task force members were searching, the girlfriend told them, "I swear on my life, he is not here officers."

In a bedroom, task force members found Chiulli hiding under a mattress, laying on his stomach with his hands under his belly. Despite several commands to place his hands on his back, the report said Chiulli refused to comply and two members of the task force eventually used Tasers to get him to comply.

Chiulli, 30, 1622 Eighth St., was charged with second-degree bail jumping, second-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree grand larceny and resisting arrest. His girlfriend, Sarah Federspiel, age unavailable, 1622 Eighth St., was charged with hindering prosecution.

After being booked at Falls police headquarters, Chiulli was taken to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center where he was treated for minor redness on the two targeted areas of his body -- his upper back and left shoulder areas.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service