A southern Oregon woman is suing a small-town cop who Tasered her one night last fall, causing a serious brain injury.
Erica L. Price, 37, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit this week against the city of Sutherlin and Officer Jay Huskey, whom she accuses of wrongfully firing a 50,000-volt charge into her with his Taser X26.
Price acknowledges in her lawsuit that she was drunk on the evening of Oct. 27, 2009, when her daughter phoned 911 to get her medical assistance for some cuts she suffered earlier in the evening.
Huskey found the 5-foot, 115-pound woman in her bathroom with blood on her hands, shirt and pants. Price was so heavily intoxicated, talking a mile a minute, that she didn't understand Huskey's commands, according to her lawsuit.
The officer shot the bloody woman in the right side with his Taser, causing her to collapse and hit her head on the bathroom floor. She suffered a serious brain injury and was flown by emergency helicopter to Portland's Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.
Price's lawsuit accuses the officer of excessive force and battery, saying he failed to assess the situation and did not follow the city's regulations for the use of his Taser.
After the incident, Huskey cited Price for harassment and interfering with a police officer. Price's lawsuit accuses the city of Sutherlin of knowingly prosecuting the "unfounded" citations.
Sutherlin police officials have said Price, 37, ignored Huskey's orders, moving for him in an aggressive manner twice before he fired his Taser.
An external review of the case, conducted by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, concluded that Huskey's actions were "appropriate and justifiable."
Price's lawsuit seeks more than $8 million in damages for pain and suffering.
-- Bryan Denson
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