• Posted on Sunday, December 26, 2010
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Misuse of Taser alleged in lawsuit filed in 2008 incident

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WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A lawsuit alleging excessive force has been filed in federal court in Macon against Georgia's Houston County in connection with a 2008 traffic stop in which a Houston County man, whose son was pulled over, was stunned with a Taser by a sheriff’s deputy.

In the lawsuit filed Tuesday, James Parker, 44, said he was attempting to find out why he was being arrested and to explain that he “had not committed any wrong acts” when Deputy Brandon Miller deployed the Taser. Parker was arrested on a charge of obstruction of an officer.

Prior to using the Taser, the deputy had “grabbed” Parker “in an aggressive manner and slammed him to the ground,” the lawsuit alleged. When he was stunned by the Taser, Parker immediately complained of chest pains and Miller threatened to deploy the Taser again, the lawsuit alleged.

The lawsuit stated that Parker “suffered grievous bodily harm and was deprived of his right to be secure in his person against unreasonable seizure of his person and the use of excessive force” in violation of his constitutional rights.

The lawsuit also alleged permanent injuries and damages sustained by Parker that included multiple surgeries to his neck, emotional harm, and ongoing pain and suffering.

The lawsuit, which also names the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Cullen Talton and Miller, seeks a jury trial and damages in excess of $10,000. Parker has incurred medial expenses and loss of income, the

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