Horrifying moment police taser man on road before he dies when …
A 28-year-old man has been killed after he was tasered on a busy road before being hit by a car when he tried to flee.
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office released body camera footage of a deputy tasering a man[1], Brent Allen Thompson, on Interstate 25 in Colorado just moments before he was struck and killed by a passing SUV.
The incident occurred on February 18, and Mr Thompson died shortly after at a hospital. The Larimer County District Attorney's Office decided not to bring criminal charges against Deputy Lorenzo Lujan in connection with the incident.
Attorneys representing Mr Thompson's family released the video to the public, expressing their belief that tasering someone on the highway was unjustified and that the video needed to be seen.
Woman spends three days in cockroach-infested drains to rescue puppies in sewers[2]
A man was killed by a car seconds after being tasered by a deputy
The distressing video shows a traffic stop on Interstate 25 involving Deputy Lorenzo Lujan and 28-year-old Mr Thompson. When Deputy Lujan informs Mr Thompson that he is being arrested, he takes off running. The video captures Lujan pursuing Thompson as he runs toward the highway.
Upon reaching the shoulder of the highway, he jumps over a guard rail, prompting Deputy Lujan to use his taser on him. As a result of being tased, Mr Thompson collapses on the highway. Lujan reacts with concern as he notices a vehicle approaching Thompson, and he can be heard exclaiming, "Sh**, sh**".
Mr Thompson is then hit by the passing SUV. Despite the shocking collision, Lujan proceeds to handcuff the victim before dragging him from the highway lane to the road's shoulder.
Mr Thompson's family has demanded justice for his death after the traffic stop incident
In the video, other deputies arrive at the scene and alternate performing CPR on Thompson until paramedics arrive. He is then taken to the Medical Center of the Rockies, where he is pronounced dead.
Sheriff John Feyen said: "Unfortunately Mr Thompson’s choices created a no-win situation,” adding that an internal investigation was also carried out. Feyen said the deputy was “legally justified in his attempt to stop the suspect endangering lives of innocent motorists”.
The family's attorneys disagree with the decision not to bring criminal charges and plan to file a civil rights lawsuit. They describe the deputy's actions as "negligent homicide" and a "deviation from standard of care".
Lawyers want the deputy who used the taser to be dismissed
Qusair Mohamedbhai, a lawyer representing Mr Thompson's family, told Washington Post: "It’s a travesty of justice that we are seeing." The family disputed the decision not to prosecute the deputy and called for his dismissal.
They described the incident as "horrific" and point out that the footage clearly shows Mr Thompson was incapacitated on the road when the car hit him. They also criticize the deputy's decision to handcuff Mr Thompson after he had been Tasered and hit by an SUV.
The family demands "criminal prosecution and termination" of Deputy Lujan, whom they hold responsible for Mr Thompson's death. Despite the public outcry, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office allowed Deputy Lujan to return to work in a non-enforcement capacity after being placed on paid administrative leave.
Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook
All the latest news, showbiz, lifestyle and sports updates, brought to you by our dedicated American team.
Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook[3] to make sure you're not missing out.
References
- ^ deputy tasering a man (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Woman spends three days in cockroach-infested drains to rescue puppies in sewers (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook (www.facebook.com)