The family of an American teenage artist who died after being tased by Florida police officers has accused the law enforcement of using excessive force.
A lawsuit filed Tuesday said that Miami Beach police used excessive force in shooting Israel Hernandez-Llach with a Taser stun gun, and failed to give him proper medical attention afterward, Miami Herald reported.
Hernandez-Llach, 18, died on August 6 after police shocked him with a taser as he was found spray-painting the wall of a shuttered building.
The young artist was not carrying a weapon and therefore he was posing no threat to the police or the public, according the lawsuit.
The artistâ„¢s death sent shockwaves across Florida sparking rallies decrying Miami Beach police and reignited debate over law enforcementâ„¢s use of stun guns.
Å“We believe this investigation will illustrate that the City of Miami Beach and Miami Beach Police do not properly train or supervise their police officers in the use of force, including the use of a Taser weapon,” said attorney Todd McPharlin.
The suit, filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, alleged that police violated the teenagerâ„¢s civil rights, and asked for damages of more than $15,000.
Miami Beach police have claimed the teenager was rushing toward police officers and that the officers acted according to department policy in dealing with someone who was resisting arrest.
Taser International, the company that manufactures the Taser stun guns, suggests police officers try to avoid shooting suspects in the chest, as was done in Hernandez-Llachâ„¢s case, because of the risk of cardiac arrest in some people.
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Republished from: Press TV