Suit: Taser By Waukegan Police Resulted In Man's Death
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (STMW) - A woman filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court Monday claiming that her husband died as a result of being Tasered by a Waukegan Police officer.
Jose Alfred Martinez was approached May 29 by Waukegan Police officers in a parking lot near 2300 Grand Avenue, according to the lawsuit. Martinez was unarmed and walking toward Officer Ken Piton, who Tasered him twice.
The lawsuit claims that the amount of force used by Piton was unnecessary and excessive. Martinez was debilitated by the first Taser when he was again Tasered in the chest area.
Martinez died as a result of Piton's use of excessive force, according to the lawsuit.
The four-count suit, which also names the city of Waukegan, seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys' fees, and court costs.
Waukegan Police were not immediately available for comment.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
