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Published on June 13, 2024
Arizona Man With Disabilities Files Federal Lawsuit Against Lake Havasu City for Excessive Force by PoliceSource: Google Street View

An Arizona man with developmental disabilities, David Adams, has taken legal action against Lake Havasu City following an incident involving local police officers that occurred last year. Adams, who was 25 at the time, alleges that he was subjected to excessive force when officers tasered him repeatedly during an arrest, according to ABC15. The arrest transpired after a dispute over a blanket with his brother, which escalated leading to the police being called.

The situation has brought to the forefront broader concerns regarding how law enforcement interacts with individuals with special needs. In recent footage obtained by ABC15 Investigators, officers are heard using derogatory terms when referring to the Adams brothers, setting a tone that the family's lawyer, Sean Woods, believes was indicative of the officers’ intentions. "Listening to that language," Woods said, "It's hard to believe that they weren't amped up and that they didn't want to do something to Mr. Adams."

Despite an internal investigation by Lake Havasu City, which found no violations of the use of force policy, ABC15 reports that the officers received only a letter of counseling for using profanity and violating department policies. Moreover, the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board did not take any disciplinary action. Body camera footage documented officers deciding on charging Adams with a 'DisCon' crime and using the drive stun mode of a Taser multiple times during the attempt to detain him, as he protested and called for the ability to breathe.

After being taken into custody, officers remarked on Adams' strength with the use of the R-word, according to a statement obtained by ABC15. Casandra Adams, David's mother, has expressed her outrage over the incident and its emotional and physical impact on her son. She is calling for improved training and greater accountability within the police department. In an ordeal that lasted for seven minutes and left him with up to 30 wounds, David was also diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis – a serious condition that can occur after Taser usage, leading to muscle breakdown and potential permanent organ damage.

A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed by Adams and his family members against Lake Havasu City and several of the officers involved. The case questions the measures taken by the police, alleging excessive force and gross negligence, among other accusations. Despite resigning from the service before the completion of the investigation, one of the officers implicated in the use of the Taser, Joshus Condra, is now employed at another law enforcement agency, reports suggest. Lake Havasu City Police Department has emphasized their regimen of regular training on high-risk engagements, including interactions with subjects who have special needs, an assertion supported by an email statement sent to ABC15.