When the deputies arrived on the scene, they found Haake behind the wheel of a white Jeep in the parking lot. A number of Goodyear employees, as well as company fire and rescue personnel, were also on the scene. American Medical Response (AMR) personnel were also summoned. Eyewitnesses reported that Haake was acting disoriented, and they were worried that he might endanger himself or others if he drove home.

At a press conference Wednesday, Shawnee County Sheriff Dick Barta reported that one of the AMR personnel said Haake had been in need of medical attention and asked the deputies to remove him from the vehicle. Barta said that the deputies tried to communicate with Haake, who "continued to be uncooperative."

At this point, the officers ordered Haake to leave his vehicle, and threatened the use of the Taser if he refused. When he did not comply, one of the deputies used the Taser in "drive stun" mode for two seconds on Haake's left thigh. When he still did not exit the vehicle, a second two-second Taser was delivered, followed by a third for an additional four seconds.

(In the "drive stun" capacity, the Taser is held against a person without firing a cartridge, and is intended to inflict pain and incapacitate the individual.)

Haake was removed from the vehicle. It should be pointed out that the deputies at this point were in possession of Haake's keys. Goodyear worker Marc Luetje, who was present, commented later to the Topeka Capital-Journal, "They had his keys, where was he going to go?"