Lake Havasu City has officially settled a lawsuit alleging police misconduct against a man with developmental disabilities. David Adams, who was 26 at the time, was involved in an altercation over a blanket with his brother, which spiraled into an encounter with local law enforcement that has drawn widespread scrutiny. According to ABC15, the incident, which occurred in 2023, resulted in multiple Taser deployments by the officers and prompted the Adams family to file a federal civil rights lawsuit.
The escalation of the encounter, despite the officers' awareness of the brothers' special needs, has led to the city agreeing to a settlement of $140,000, to be split among three family members. During the altercation, body-camera footage captured one officer using a derogatory slur to describe the Adams brothers. The phrase, as reported by WSILTV, was "These are those three brothers that are f**king ret***ed." The settlement came with a stipulation that the Adams family agree no discrimination occurred and that Lake Havasu City and the responding officers would not admit to any wrongdoing, continuing to deny all liability.
The tumultuous arrest of Adams, captured on video, included at least seven Taser activations and resulted in roughly 20-30 wounds on David's torso and leg. Following the incident, an internal police investigation concluded that while the officers had used unprofessional language, none had used excessive force. However, David's lawyer, Sean Woods, questioned the appropriateness of the officers' actions, telling ABC15 they should have "In standards across the nation, the officers probably should have just said, 'You know what, we're going to take a report and maybe come back the next day to talk to the different people.'"
Despite the settlement, advocates continue to call for police reform and better training regarding encounters with individuals with special needs. The Lake Havasu City Police Department claims they conduct regular training, including sessions on interacting with subjects that have special needs. In response to inquiries about the training and tactics used in Adams' arrest, the department said, "The Lake Havasu City Police Department conducts regular training in reference to high liability issues, including Taser, firearms, driving, case law, and interacting with subjects that have special needs. These training sessions are offered in person and taught by qualified personnel within the department, as well as training that is contracted with outside facilitators to bring our officers the best information possible. Officers are also allowed to attend online training to further their knowledge in the above subjects," as per a statement obtained by ABC15.
David Adams was later convicted of two misdemeanors related to the initial incident, although he was acquitted of resisting arrest. Meanwhile, Casandra Adams, David's mother, has been unequivocal in advocating for more stringent training and accountability within the Lake Havasu City Police Department. She reinforces this need to ensure no other family endures a similar ordeal, stating in an interview with WSILTV, "Go up the chain of command and let people know because, if they don't hear about it, and if it doesn't essentially pile up, nothing will ever change."
