Taser Death Family Sues FWPD and officer

The City of Fort Worth and one of its police officers have been sued in the case of Michael Jacobs Jr.

Michael Jacobs

Jacobs, a schizophrenic, was shocked with a Taser and died in police custody.

"We've sued the City of Fort Worth," said Brian Eberstein, the Dallas attorney representing the Jacobs' family. "We've sued the individual officer who actually held and used the Taser gun."

The lawsuit names the city and police Corporal Stephanie Phillips. The suit cites the coroner's report which states; "....Phillips advised the decedent that if he did not calm down and comply with her directions, she would have to use her Taser device on him; he replied reportedly, 'Go ahead, I've always wanted to see what that feels like anyway.' "

According to the autopsy report, Phillips shocked Jacobs for 49-seconds, paused one second, and then shocked him five more seconds.

The autopsy report states Phillips; "...unknowingly kept the Taser trigger engaged for an unknown amount of time when she first applied the Taser, thus increasing the pre-programmed shock duration cycle of five seconds."

The lawsuit filed by the Jacobs' attorney claims; "The City of Fort Worth's gross neglect in failing to properly train and supervise its police officers, therefore, amounted to conscious indifference to the rights of citizens such as Michael."

The coroner's report also shows that they made several requests to the police department asking for its investigation results - dating back to early August. Each time the department said it could not meet the medical examiner's request.

The medical examiner finally released an independent report on August 27th, more than four months after Jacobs' death.

The police department declined comment saying it was inappropriate to comment on an investigation that is pending district attorney and grand jury review, or possibly going to litigation.
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