Family sues Mobile, Ala., after stun gun death

MOBILE, Ala. — The family of an Alabama man who died after police used a stun gun on him filed a wrongful death lawsuit Monday against the city of Mobile.

The family of Jawan Dallas alleges Mobile police used excessive force that led to his death. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Mobile, names the city and two unnamed officers as defendants. It seeks $36 million in damages.

Dallas, 36, died July 2 after he was shocked with a stun gun while police were trying to subdue him.

“He was assaulted multiple times, struck multiple times and tasered multiple times,” attorney Harry Daniels said during a Monday news conference announcing the lawsuit.

The district attorney announced last month that a grand jury cleared the officers of criminal wrongdoing and said Dallas died of underlying medical conditions that were exacerbated by drug use and the struggle with officers.

Attorneys for the family said the body camera footage, which was viewed by the family last month, shows officers used excessive force. Family attorneys urged the police department to publicly release the video.

The city did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also contends that officers had no reason to try to detain Dallas and that he was under no suspicion of criminal wrongdoing at the time of the confrontation.

Officers approached Dallas after they responded to a possible burglary report at a trailer park when a 911 caller reported that a “homeless guy” was in his yard. Police approached Dallas, who was in his vehicle at another trailer, and another man who was in the yard at the home. According to the lawsuit, an officer demanded Dallas get out of the car and produce his identification. Dallas had told the officers they were violating his rights, and he attempted to flee on foot at some point but was tackled by an officer, the lawsuit said.

Attorneys said Dallas can be heard in the body camera video screaming, begging for help and at one point saying, “I can’t breathe. I don’t want to be George Floyd.”

The Dallas family is represented by attorneys Daniels, John Burrus, Ben Crump and Lee Merritt, who have represented families in a number of high-profile cases where Black people have died during confrontations with police.