Lafayette, LA

Lafayette, LA: (Jul-24-07) The family of Dwayne Dunn, 33, of Baton Rouge, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, claiming that Dunn died after police shocked him with a stun gun. The suit further alleged that Dunn got inadequate medical care at the Lafayette Parish jail. Dunn died shortly after he was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center in 2004. Police have said officers shocked Dunn with a stun gun because he was intoxicated and refused to leave a parking lot. An autopsy listed the cause of death as a cocaine overdose, but the lawsuit alleged the stun gun contributed to Dunn's death. Taser stun guns have come under scrutiny in recent years, with critics citing cases where suspects have been killed or badly injured by officers using the devices.

In a settlement reached, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, accused of improper medical care, will pay $27,500 and $5,000 will be paid by the City-Parish government, which was accused of excessive force by the officers. The settlement comes less than a year after City-Parish Government paid $82,500 to settle a stun gun-related lawsuit filed by Kevin Alexander, 29, of Houston. [KATC NEWS: STUN GUN DEATH]

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Published on Jul-25-07