A video recorded in an Augusta jail shows an inmate with his face against a wall and his hands behind his back.
But Richmond County deputies Donnie Crawford and Christopher Alexis fired stun guns at Carlos Seals anyway, according to Channel 2 Action News.
VIDEO: Inmate files lawsuit over Taser incident at Augusta jail
So after Seals was released from jail, he filed a federal civil rights lawsuit related to the Aug. 30 incident.
Seals said he severely injured his head and has nerve trouble related to when deputies stunned him at Richmond County Jail. His mounting medical bills exceed $20,000, Channel 2 reported.
“They are refusing to pay the bills, so now not only does he have injuries to deal with, but has bills to pay,” attorney Anita Lamar said.
The deputies said Seals was being combative and would not comply with their commands. While Seals admitted to Channel 2 he was using profanity, he said he did as the deputies instructed.
“You don’t shoot a dart and then run electricity through the dart unless they are violently resisting you,” Seals said.
A police report said one of the deputies deployed his stun gun, but it didn’t connect. Because Seals continued to be combative, the deputy wrote in the report that a second deputy reached for his stun gun and it connected.
Seals told Channel 2 he screamed when the Taser pierced his skin.
The prisoner was knocked out when he hit the floor and four deputies could be seen on the video standing over him. After a minute and a half, one of them checked Seals’ pulse.
Lamar said Seals was in “the surrender position” when he was stunned.
“I’d rather go by the video rather than what they say is on the video,” Lamar said.
The sheriff’s office wouldn’t comment, but did tell Channel 2 that Crawford was fired. No action was taken against Alexis.
If the sheriff’s office decides not to settle the lawsuit, the case could take more than two years to reach a jury trial.
About the Author
