A Georgia family is suing two police officers for the death of their father, which occurred after he was Tasered at least 13 times while handcuffed. According to the allegations, officers Marcus Eberhard and Howard Weems used excessive force to subdue 24-year old subdue Gregory Lewis Towns, Jr. As Terri Osborne reports, “The lawsuit claims that Towns was repeatedly ‘drive-stunned’ (where the Taser makes physical contact with the victim instead of using the prongs to connect the circuit) in an attempt to get him to move” after a foot chase.
The lawsuit alleges that Weems and Eberhart violated the East Point police department’s stun gun policy. The policy states that officers should not stun any handcuffed suspect. Furthermore, Tasers should not be used to escort or prod someone, or in cases where suspects passively resisting. According to a Fulton County medical examiner’s office autopsy report, “Towns died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease exacerbated by physical exertion and conducted electrical stimulation.” The Georgia Bureau of Investigation filed a report on the case, so the District Attorney Paul Howard is determining if the case should be brought before a grand jury.
Source: Terri Osbourne, “Family Sues GA Police for Allegedly Tasering Handcuffed Suspect to Death,” Crime Feed Investigation Discovery, August 29, 2014, http://crimefeed.com/2014/08/judge-ga-police-go-far-tasering-handcuffed-man-13-times/
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