Federal suit alleges ex-deputy assaulted disabled man

By Brian Smith
Register News Writer

RICHMOND — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has been named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit alleging a former sheriff’s deputy used a Taser against a disabled man.

The suit, filed June 21 in U.S. District Court in Lexington, names former Sgt. Scotty Anderson, Sheriff Nelson O’Donnell and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office as defendants. Anderson and O’Donnell are being sued both in their official and individual capacities.

In the eight-page complaint, Richmond resident Sammy Harris alleges that on July 31, 2009, Anderson used a Taser device against Harris, who is disabled.

The alleged incident took place at Harris’ home after his daughter called the sheriff’s office to report the theft of money and a cellular phone by a cab driver, according to the complaint.

When Anderson arrived at the home, Harris went out onto his porch on a motorized scooter to accompany his daughter as she met with Anderson, the suit states.

Harris has a degenerative spinal condition and was recovering from multiple heart surgeries to place stents at the time of the incident, the lawsuit states, and did not have the strength to get off the scooter or to push a wheelchair.

According to the suit, Anderson asked Harris’ daughter if she had been drinking. When the woman admitted she had been drinking the previous evening, Anderson placed her under arrest and threw her to the ground, the suit states.

During the incident, Anderson pushed on the scooter with his foot, throwing Harris out of the seat, the suit alleges. Anderson then tackled Harris, the complaint claims, causing a cut to Harris’ head from colliding with a concrete ramp.

The suit then claims that Anderson drew his Taser and discharged the weapon despite Harris’ daughter telling him her father was recovering from heart surgery.

“Sgt. Anderson tased Mr. Harris while he was on the ground,” the suit states. “Mr. Harris did not pose an immediate threat to the safety of Sgt. Anderson or anyone else.”


http://richmondregister.com/localnews/x739951289/Federal-suit-alleges-ex-deputy-assaulted-disabled-man