November 6, 2008

Taser Cop Scott Lugent Faces Wrongful Death Lawsuit


The behavior of law enforcement officials that are too eager to use taser guns changes when they see large consequences. It was good to see taser-happy cop fired in Florida for using taser at party with minors.

In addition to taking away their livelihood ... we now see where the family of a taser victim, Baron Pikes, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against former Louisiana police officer Scott Nugent, Louisiana city officials, and Taser International in relation to a police brutality incident earlier this year.

The wrongful death lawsuit was filed by Pikes' wife. He had a four-year-old child who will now grow up fatherless.

Baron Pikes, a 21-year-old from Winnfield, LA, died of cardiac arrest brought on by multiple taser shots. Pikes was tasered nine times by police officer Scott Nugent before his heart gave out. Each taser blast pumped 50,000 volts of electricity into Pikes, who was in handcuffs before ever receiving the first shot.

Nugent was arresting Pikes on a drug possession charge. Winn Parish District Attorney Chris Nevils has charged Nugent with manslaughter, claiming that he used unnecessary force on Pikes by continuously administering taser shots after he had subdued his suspect. Nugent also failed to secure medical attention for Pikes after he collapsed. He was dismissed from the police force after the incident.

Personally, I hope that the Pikes family wins their lawsuit. How about you?

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