City Pays over $150K in Stun Gun Incident

13 Comments

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The El Paso County commissioners have voted to pay $56,000 to settle a federal lawsuit by a man shot by a sheriff’s deputy with a stun gun.

The commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday for the settlement with 48-year-old Jiles Theron Bennett of Peyton and his wife, Jill. The county also paid about $105,000 in legal fees and other costs.

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Bennett sued the deputy and the sheriff’s office, claiming that he suffered injuries and emotional distress from the 2007 incident. Deputy Jerome Mercado-Vargas said he used the stun gun after Bennett became agitated during a traffic stop.

Sheriff Terry Maketa defended the deputy, but said the county decided to settle the lawsuit because the deputy is ill. He declined to elaborate.

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bluelineapplicant

over 3 years ago

114 Comments

This sounds like everyone who is shot witha taser can sue. Its total bullSH** that they vest these officers and deputies with the tools needed and when they are used they city says oh here have some money mr and mrs. criminal. I think paying out is the dumbest way to look good.
Whalewatcher

over 3 years ago

9818 Comments

Jonas, don't expect the county to switch their position now that they just caved in like an old barn roof. Hate to see the deputy left out in the cold like this; get well soon, Deputy Mercado-Vargas.
Templar_Knight

over 3 years ago

88 Comments

I do not like this type of precedence. Although there is not enough information, this type of stupidity just reaffirms the stupidity of the management types. Look what happened to Ford and Firestone with the tire/roller over issue. You settle out of court too many times and everything will back fire.
DarkBlue

over 3 years ago

4880 Comments

There is a special place in Hell for Liberal Defense Lawyers. They have systematically destroyed this Great Country , one BS lawsuit after another. And then when they are tired of screwing up our Freedoms they run for office and do even more damage.
jabarilles

over 3 years ago

18 Comments

This is why Crime rates keeps going up. The Court Ruling in favor of the Criminals (not limited to murder, theft and arson but also to scammers such as these people who will find many ways to make a buck) are just plainly sending out an open invitations for others to do it. Guess who gets the laughing end of it? Not us thats for sure.
BBUCK90351

over 3 years ago

4 Comments

The reason these law suits continue is written plain as day. The idiot suing got only $56,000 and the scumbag ATTORNEY got $105,000. With this type of pay out, the law suits will never stop. Most agencies payout due to the high cost of defending these ridiculous suits. What they need to do is take EVERYONE of them to court make these attorneys work for their money, which they won't get because in most cases the idiot was wrong in his actions, which caused the officer to use whatever was necessary to effect a legal arrest.
Sorry have the same thing happening with me and my dept wants to be the idiot due to the cost to defend
creekcop

over 3 years ago

1056 Comments

We need more info.... This doesn't seem logical.
s3sk

over 3 years ago

3308 Comments

wow.
DALLASCRANE

over 3 years ago

19386 Comments

The city thinks it's cheaper to settle. Wait till the next round of lawsuits. Appears Bennett had emotional distress before the tragic stop. Best to the Deputy. GMAB
184retired

over 3 years ago

3804 Comments

Typical they give you the less than leathal weapons but you use them and they settle. If they aren't going to back their use unless there is gross misuse then why bother, waste of money and a waste of training, and in the end yet again it looks like the cops are wrong...I think I'd forget about the taser, wait on backup and watch the injuries go up unfortunately on both sides...Beats the hell out of being sued!
hbg522

over 3 years ago

7006 Comments

well i hope the Deputy isnt seriously ill
Irishcop1961

over 3 years ago

36912 Comments

Need more info here.
Jonas

over 3 years ago

38366 Comments

Must have been out of my mind. I can't believe what I just read. I think the Deputy should be able to counter sue Mr. Bennett for having to discharge his taser. I am sure Deputy Mercado-Vargas suffered emotional distress. And the county caves.