CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A former East Bank police officer who admitted to using a Taser on a pregnant 18-year-old and a town firefighter is now being sued by the woman in Kanawha County Circuit Court.

In September, Candice White, 18, told East Bank City Council she was sitting on her porch when East Bank Police Sgt. Steve Smith, a friend of her mother's at the time, showed up.

White is suing the town of East Bank as well as Smith, alleging battery and negligence.

"He was just playing around. He [used the Taser] on my leg three times, then again. It left star marks on my body," White said at the meeting.

White said she told him to stop and smacked at the Taser. Afterward, White said, Smith told her not to tell Bob Stone, an East Bank councilman. White said she was pregnant when the incident occurred.

At the East Bank council meeting, Candice White's mother also said she saw the incident.

According to the lawsuit filed by White's attorney, Mike Clifford, a few days after the incident, White told Smith she was pregnant. He told her "tazing" would not hurt the baby.

Smith told council members at the September meeting that White had asked if she could get a Taser. He told her that he was trained to certify her in its use, and part of the training involved getting shocked with the Taser. He said she asked to be Tasered, and he had the Taser's power setting on low.

He said he didn't know she was pregnant.

A young man from the East Bank Volunteer Fire Department also told the council in September that he was Tasered by Smith.

"He Tasered me because it was my birthday," the firefighter said, adding that his back was turned when Smith used the Taser on him.

"It didn't hurt me. I had no problem with it. It didn't hurt," he said.

In November, Smith was fired over the Taser incidents by East Bank Mayor Chuck Blair.

Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A former East Bank police officer who admitted to using a Taser on a pregnant 18-year-old and a town firefighter is now being sued by the woman in Kanawha County Circuit Court.

In September, Candice White, 18, told East Bank City Council she was sitting on her porch when East Bank Police Sgt. Steve Smith, a friend of her mother's at the time, showed up.

White is suing the town of East Bank as well as Smith, alleging battery and negligence.

"He was just playing around. He [used the Taser] on my leg three times, then again. It left star marks on my body," White said at the meeting.

White said she told him to stop and smacked at the Taser. Afterward, White said, Smith told her not to tell Bob Stone, an East Bank councilman. White said she was pregnant when the incident occurred.

At the East Bank council meeting, Candice White's mother also said she saw the incident.

According to the lawsuit filed by White's attorney, Mike Clifford, a few days after the incident, White told Smith she was pregnant. He told her "tazing" would not hurt the baby.

Smith told council members at the September meeting that White had asked if she could get a Taser. He told her that he was trained to certify her in its use, and part of the training involved getting shocked with the Taser. He said she asked to be Tasered, and he had the Taser's power setting on low.

He said he didn't know she was pregnant.

A young man from the East Bank Volunteer Fire Department also told the council in September that he was Tasered by Smith.

"He Tasered me because it was my birthday," the firefighter said, adding that his back was turned when Smith used the Taser on him.

"It didn't hurt me. I had no problem with it. It didn't hurt," he said.

In November, Smith was fired over the Taser incidents by East Bank Mayor Chuck Blair.

Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.