Federal Judge Dismisses Taser Death Lawsuit in Alabama

A federal judge in Mobile, Alabama, dismissed a wrongful death and excessive force lawsuit on Tuesday filed by the family of Jawan Dallas, a 36-year-old man who died in July 2023 after Mobile police officers deployed a Taser against him multiple times during an arrest attempt. The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose came in favor of the city and two officers involved, and it led to the unsealing of previously unreleased body camera footage that captured the encounter.

The incident occurred on July 2, 2023, at a trailer park where officers responded to a report of possible burglary and trespassing. Dallas was sitting in his vehicle when an officer approached and demanded that he exit the car and provide identification. According to the footage, Dallas responded by saying, "That's illegal." Officers then pulled him from the vehicle, leading to a physical struggle. During the altercation, officers used the Taser on Dallas, including a drive stun mode that lasted about 44 seconds, longer than the device's recommended deployment time of five seconds. The medical examiner's report, cited in the ruling, documented three abrasions on Dallas consistent with dry stun...