LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A southern Indiana man plans to sue Jeffersonville’s mayor, police chief and the state’s attorney general because he said officers used excessive force when they arrested him after a car accident in which he says he suffered a seizure.
Joshua Harrison claims he was getting pizza in the afternoon of April 4 when he suffered a seizure, passed out and struck a parked vehicle. Court documents allege that Harrison’s hand then hit the gear shift, causing the car to back up and hit a house.
The documents allege that two Jeffersonville Police officers dragged Harrison from the car, with his face on concrete, because he was “noncompliant, non-responsive to verbal commands and began to physically resist the officers.”
However, a witness said Harrison was confused and said, “Stop, stop get off me I don’t know what’s happening.”
Harrison was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with broken ribs and a broken breast bone, according to the documents. He also suffered abrasions to his face, and stopped breathing, requiring a breathing tube.
The tort claim notice, filed by New Albany-based Culotta & Culotta, alleges that the officers, police chief mayor and others “were negligent” for reasons including that they failed to train officers “to recognize and respond to an individual suffering from a serious medical condition, specifically a seizure or other cognitive deficiency.”
Harrison intends to file suit unless his claim is not paid within 90 days.
Jeffersonville Police Department could not be immediately reached for comment.
Copyright 2020 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
