An Arizona family is planning to file a lawsuit against local police after they allegedly stormed their home and shocked a military veteran multiple times with a stun gun while he was suffering a PTSD panic attack.
In a notice claim filed with the Gilbert Police Department, the family of Kyle Cardenas says they called the veteran crisis hotline in September after Mr. Cardenas was showing intense signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, a local ABC News affiliate reported.
According to the document, officers showed up at their home, even though the family had requested police be kept out of the situation.
The complaint states Mr. Cardenas, who served two tours in Iraq, initially struggled with officers before he ran to his room.
Mr. Cardenas’ attorney Scott Zwillinger told the Phoenix New Times that the officers pushed into Mr. Cardenas’ home after he shut the door in their face. When he threatened to fetch his cellphone to record the encounter, the police chased him down the hallway, kicked in his door and told him they were going to detain him for attempting to have the family dog attack officers.
The family said officers used a Taser to stun Mr. Cardenas at least seven times, triggering an episode that required him to be hospitalized.
“The police charged into his bedroom… and attempted to restrain Kyle again. During the melee, the officers [stunned] Kyle at least seven times, sprayed OC spray directly into Kyle’s face, struck Kyle multiple times with their batons, punched Kyle in the face with closed fists, kicked and kneed Kyle in the thighs and legs, and ordered one of the K-9 unit dogs to attack and bite Kyle, the complaint states, according to ABC.
After Mr. Cardenas complained of chest pains, officials took him to a hospital where he was restrained and given a dose of Haldol, an anti-psychotic drug commonly used to sedate agitated patients, the New Times reported.
Mr. Cardenas struggled with a security guard at the hospital and was stunned again while he was strapped into a gurney, at which point his heart stopped.
Mr. Cardenas, was revived and put into a medically induced coma for four days, according to the complaint.
The family is charging police with assault and battery, excessive force, false arrest and negligent hiring, training and supervision and is seeking $20 million to settle the case.
A spokesperson for the Gilbert Police Department told ABC they are looking into the incident.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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