Dash cam reveals shocking footage of teen being tased into cardiac arrest WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE WITH STRONG LANGUAGE

'The defendant abused his authority as a law enforcement officer by depriving a minor of his constitutional rights and causing bodily harm.'

In a shocking dash cam video, a former Missouri officer appeared to perform a routine traffic stop when things got ugly.

The officer pulled 17-year-old Bryce Masters from his vehicle then brutally tased him into cardiac arrest, then pulled the boy's limp body to the curb, where he unceremoniously dropped the semi-conscious teen face-first on the cement.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to the Huffington Post former Officer Timothy Runnels performed the heinous act in September 2014, when he pulled the teen over after suspecting the vehicle's license plate was linked to an outstanding arrest warrant.

Runnels' dash cam recorded the entire incident - including the verbal exchange between officer and teen.

Masters was on his way to play video games at a friend's house when he was pulled over and tole to step out of his vehicle. Masters pulled out his cell phone and recorded himself telling Runnels, "I haven't done anything, officer."

That was when Runnels became violent. The driver's side door was open and Runnels reached in to grab the teen's phone, but when that failed, Masters began to repeatedly ask, "Am I under arrest?"

Runnels refused to clarify whether Masters was under arrest, and instead repeated, "Come out of the car."

Runnels grabbed at the teen's legs and attempted to forcibly pull the boy from the vehicle before becoming frustrated and saying, "F**** it" before discharging his taser, which lodged itself near Masters' heart.

Masters' phone caught the beginning of the encounter and concluded when the officer grabbed the device, stopped the camera then chucked it in the street.

The dash cam captured Runnels dragging Masters from the vehicle, the taser still going, then the teen falling to the ground.

Runnels repeatedly demanded the obviously unresponsive teen to put his hands behind his back, until Runnels moves the limp limbs himself, and only then does he appear to turn off the taser.

When he attempts to lift Masters, the teen's body is limp. Rather than checking to ensure Masters isn't in serious condition, Runnels drags the boy to the curb, where the dash cam captures him dropping Masters face-first against the pavement like so much garbage.

It is uncertain whether Runnels was aware of Masters' condition when the teen went limp, but the boy had gone into cardiac arrest.

The Intercept explained the taser Runnels used that day sent 5-seconds of electricity with each pull of the trigger - but Runnels held it down for 23-seconds - the equivalent of four pulls.

The tasing deprived Masters' brain of oxygen for up to eight minutes before paramedics were able to connect him to a ventilator at Centerpoint's trauma center.

Immediately following the incident, Independence Police Maj. Paul Thurman claimed Runnels' use of the weapon was within the department's policy. It wasn't until contradicting witness reports came out that the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice got involved.

Their investigation led to a federal case in which Runnels was incited on counts of excessive force and obstruction of justice, as well as allegations that he made a false report and gave investigators false statements.

During Runnels' hearing, Masters described how the brain damage he suffered continues to affect his daily life.

"People tell me I'm different," Masters explained. "I feel different. I get in the car to go somewhere and then I'll forget where I was going. I've missed job interviews because I forgot them."

Runnels apologized to Masters and his family during the hearing and said he was "deeply remorseful" before adding, "At no point did I intend to hurt him. But I did."

He has since been sentenced to four years in prison.

DOJ Civil Rights Division acting deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta released a statement last week in which she said: "The defendant abused his authority as a law enforcement officer by depriving a minor of his constitutional rights and causing bodily harm.

"While the majority of law enforcement safeguards our communities with fidelity, the department will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute officers who violate their oath by using excessive force."

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