Woman accused of hate crime after allegedly deploying Taser and using homophobic slurs

A woman accused of discharging a Taser and yelling homophobic slurs during an argument late Saturday night was arrested and is facing a hate crime charge.

At about 11:30 p.m. Saturday the victim was outside his front door in the 2000 block of West Nora Avenue when a group of children walked by his house and began taunting his dog, said Sgt. Terry Preuninger.

The victim told the group to “just keep walking and go home,” according to the statement. That’s when the kids started yelling homophobic slurs, the victim told police.

After the kids passed, 44-year-old Jennifer Franks walked up yelling “they’re just kids” along with expletives and slurs, according to police. Franks then pulled out a Taser, initiated the spark and pointed it at the victim, according to the victim and witnesses statements.

A witness told police they heard Franks threaten the victim with the Taser and use slurs, a Spokane police news release said.

Franks was arrested and charged with malicious