Salem Police Taser Use Blamed in $6M Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The lawsuit claims Rold's civil rights were violated, the police officers' negligent actions caused his death and excessive force was used against him.

The city of Salem and Salem police face a wrongful death lawsuit concerning excessive force with the use of a Taser.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The family of a Salem man who died after Salem police hit him with a Taser has filed a multi-million dollar wrongful death lawsuit against the city, several city employees and police officers. The suit is seeking upwards of $1.5 million in compensatory damages and $4.5 million in punitive damages, as reported by the Statesman Journal.

The lawsuit stems from a May 2009 trespassing complaint in the 1200 block of Royvonne Avenue SE at an apartment complex, regarding Gregory Angar Rold, 30.

The Marion County District Attorney's Office stated that police officers made contact with Rold, advising him that he was under arrest. Rold apparently did not comply and began to struggle, causing the officers to use their batons and Tasers during the struggle.

Rold was arrested and shortly afterward stopped breathing. Paramedics rushed him to a Salem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on May 23, 2009. The Oregon State Medical Examiners determined that Rold died from sudden cardiac arrhythmia due to hypertensive atheroselerotic heart disease, exertion and positional asphyxiation. His death was ultimately ruled as an accident.

The Oregon State Police and Keizer Police Department conducted the investigation regarding the case. On June 19, a Marion County Grand jury concluded that Salem police officers were "justified in using physical force while attempting to arrest Rold."

The lawsuit claims Rold's civil rights were violated, the police officers' negligent actions caused his death and excessive force was used against him. The suit names the city of Salem, four police officers: Officer Jacob Pratt, Cpl. Daron Mumey, Officer Adam Waite and Cpl. Eric Brown, and 20 city employees.

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Source: justicenewsflash.com