The incident happened in the centre of Vasto in Chieti, when the two agents allegedly grappled with Giovanni De Rosa and his wife and immobilised the fishmonger using allegedly overly heavy-handed tactics.
Bystanders filmed the altercation and the video has gone viral, spurring widepread criticism of the cops who have been likened to American police and their take no prisoners approach.
De Rosa’s lawyer Fiorenzo Cieri said footage of the incident did not tell the whole story of what transpired.
“In the video you only see what happened after, but it is the consequence of what happened before," he told reporters for local site ChiaroQuotidiano.it.
"No darts were fired with the taser, which only emitted an audible signal used as a deterrent.
"My clients will sue, person by person, all those who have made offensive comments."
Politicians have also weighed in, with Maurizio Acerbo, leader of the Communist Refoundation party, scathing of the police tactics.
"I think the agents must be suspended from duty immediately. Are we in Los Angeles?" he said.
The officers' lawyer said they had not used the electronic dart of the taser but only its sound alert and said they would sue anyone repeating "defamatory slurs" against them.
ANSA
