A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against former Louisiana police officer Scott Nugent, Louisiana city officials, and Taser International in relation to a police brutality incident last January.
Baron Pikes, a 21-year-old from Winnfield, LA, died of cardiac arrest brought on by multiple taser shots. Pike was tasered nine times by police officer Scott Nugent before his heart gave out. Each taser blast pumped 50,000 volts of electricity into Pikes, who was in handcuffs before ever receiving the first shot.
Nugent was arresting Pikes on a drug possession charge. Winn Parish District Attorney Chris Nevils has charged Nugent with manslaughter, claiming that he used unnecessary force on Pikes by continuously administering taser shots after he had subdued his suspect. Nugent also failed to secure medical attention for Pikes after he collapsed. He was dismissed from the police force after the incident.
This is not the first time that police officers around the country have faced criticism for excessive use of tasers. While they were provided to police officers as a method of protection against hostile and potentially armed suspects, there have been many allegations of police abuse in conjunction with these weapons.
The wrongful death lawsuit was filed by Pikes’ wife. He had a four-year-old child who will now grow up fatherless.
If you know someone who has been the victim of a wrongful death case in the Houston, Texas area, please contact the law offices of Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P. today for an initial consultation.
