A young police cadet with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Salt Lake City Police Department, for the alleged death of the cadet's father by use of a stun gun, as reported by the Associated Press for the San Francisco Chronicle.
On a YouTube video, Police Chief C.B. denied that a stun gun was used by his officers on burglary suspect, A.N., 44, on June 9.
A.N. later died the same day while in police custody.
A witness, produced by the family, has come forward that claims to have overheard two officers talking about using the stun gun on A.N. One officer allegedly told the other he had tasered A.N. after stopping him on his bicycle and handcuffing him.
The witness, D.B., 78, is a retired nurse and acquainted with A.N.'s family.
D.B. said, "I could hear (A.N.) crying and saying, 'Don't hit me anymore. I didn't do it.'"
D.B. added, "I heard one officer say, 'I Tased him,' and another officer say, 'You Tased him? Oh, my god. He's not breathing'".
D.B. has alleged that the two arresting officers did not attempt to resuscitate A.N. after he stopped breathing. Afraid to step forward and help A.N. herself, D.B. allegedly hid behind a nearby rose bush.
C.B. claims that A.N., a burglary suspect, grew agitated during the arrest and died due to unknown reasons. Police computers show that no officers used their stun guns, according to C.B. The incident is under investigation.
C.B. said, "Our officers were not responsible for the death of this individual." C.B. further stated that witnesses had been interviewed, though D.B. was not mentioned by name.
A.N. had been in police custody for a shoplifting charge the day before he died. Court records show that A.N. had an extensive criminal record. Part of the plea deal for his release involved pleading guilty to assaulting an officer.
A.N.'s son, T.P., 23, said that the police have not allowed the family members any information regarding his father's death.
T.P. has stated that the police report should be handed over to the family as they have a right to see it. However, according to C.B., once they have the state medical examiner's report will they close the case and then release their full report.
Attorney Robert B. Sykes is representing the family. Sykes said that the filing of the lawsuit will give him the subpoena power to demand the answers the family wants regarding the death of A.N.
T.P. said, "I wake up every morning wondering what happened to my father. I believe something happened that wasn't supposed to happen, whether it was an accident or not."
A.N.'s pastor, N.G., said that A.N. "was sincere about making changes" in his life, until this last episode with police officers.
Contact a personal injury lawyer to file your wrongful death lawsuit so that you may pursue a monetary award compensating you for your pain and loss.