Family Sues Dekalb County (GA) Police for Excessive Force - Black Man Tasered Repeatedly for not Getting into Ambulance

From [HERE] DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- The parents of a Norcross man who died after police shocked him with Tasers have filed a wrongful death suit against DeKalb County police.

“It doesn’t make sense. It’s just what they did is wrong. It’s plain wrong,” said Anne Davis. Davis choked back tears as she spoke with Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Regan about the sudden death of her son, Audrecas Davis, on May 9, 2010. He suffered a seizure at a DeKalb County motel.

Police had answered a call from paramedics about an unruly patient. Officers shocked the 29-year-old man six times. The police report said two officers used their 50,000-volt weapons when Davis resisted being handcuffed to a stretcher, became combative and flailed his arms.

“My son was not a threat to them at all. There was no crime involved. He was sick, he truly needed medical attention,” said Davis. The patient’s sister questions if the repeated shocks were necessary.

“They Tased my brother six times. Not only one officer, but two that did it.”

An internal police investigation cleared the officers involved of wrongdoing. The DeKalb medical examiner ruled the Taser shocks did not directly cause Davis’ death, and that he had medical problems, including hypertension and heart disease. An autopsy determined he died from cardio-respiratory arrest.

But Davis’ mother doesn’t believe health problems caused her son’s death. She told Regan the cause was the Taser shocks and that the officers used excessive, unnecessary force.

“I want them held accountable so they can see how they erred in their procedures, and this won’t be committed again,” said Davis.

Regan e-mailed the media spokesperson for DeKalb police. She said the agency cannot comment on pending litigation.

Following the findings of the police review board, Chief William O’Brien stated that the officers followed the proper protocol. He also said that he stands behind the use of the Taser as an alternative to deadly force.

The suit seeks unspecified damages.

Comments

[rooomate]

I loved the GE article and the tasered story. Especially the fact that you follow up on old cases like the football player killed by police.