Police in the Argentine province of Neuquén used a Taser 10 stun gun for the first time during a field operation over the weekend, according to Lmneuquen.com. The incident involved two people who were detained after officers responded to a reported brawl.
The deployment occurred after surveillance cameras spotted the individuals fighting, local outlet ANBariloche reported. Officers fired warning shots into the air during the procedure, and two suspects were taken into custody, according to Lmneuquen.com.
The Taser 10 was used against the two individuals, described by Diariamente Neuquén as "brawling troublemakers." One of the detained people was reportedly carrying a knife in the early morning hours, though El Digital Neuquen noted the weapon was not intended for cooking, a reference to a common local expression about carrying knives for barbecues.
This marks the first operational use of the Taser 10 by Neuquén police since the device was introduced to the force. Neuquen Informa, the provincial government's news agency, confirmed the historic first use during the procedure.
The arrests took place in Neuquén city, the capital of the province of the same name in Argentina's Patagonia region. Police have not released further details about the identities of the two detained individuals or whether they face formal charges.
The deployment comes as Argentine police forces increasingly adopt less-lethal weapons for crowd control and high-risk arrests. The Taser 10, manufactured by Axon, is a newer model that allows officers to engage targets from greater distances than earlier versions.
Observers will be watching whether the Neuquén force expands its use of Tasers in routine patrols or reserves them for specific high-risk situations.
