Suit Filed Against Ferguson Cops for Death of Mentally Ill Man

Ferguson, Missouri, resident Tina
Moore has filed
a federal lawsuit alleging local police officers used
excessive force against her husband Jason in 2011. According to the
suit, Ferguson cops repeatedly Tasered the unarmed 31-year-old
despite “clear signs” he was mentally ill, resulting in
Jason’s death from a heart attack. 

The officers, Brian Kaminski and Michael White, were dispatched
to a building where Jason Moore was walking around naked and
shouting. Moore “did not pose a serious threat of harm,” the suit
says, and “demonstrated clear signs of mental illness.” It
continues: 

After exiting his patrol vehicle, Officer Kaminski instructed
Jason Moore to put his hands in the air and to walk his way.
When Jason Moore approached Kaminski, Kaminski drew his X26
Taser and fired it at Jason Moore, with one prong striking Moore in
the left side of his chest near the heart, and the other prong
striking him in the right thigh.

Officer Kaminski then tasered Jason Moore at least three
separate times.

Officer White arrived during the tasing of Jason Moore, and
restrained Moore physically while he was being tasered by
Officer Kaminski. 

While Jason Moore was being restrained and repeatedly tasered he
stopped breathing and became unresponsive. As a result of the
use of excessive force as described above, Jason Moore
suffered excruciating pain and suffered a cardiac arrest resulting
in death. 

The lawsuit claims Officer Kaminski’s level of use of force was
not reasonable, and that officers should have been better trained
to identify and handle those suffering from mental issues. “The
violation of the federal right of individuals such as Jason
Moore’s was a highly predictable consequence of (the Ferguson
police department’s) failure to equip its law enforcement
officers with specific tools to handle such situations,” it
says.