Glendale Police officers, top right, use a taser on a man after he questioned why he had to provide identification. The man and his wife are suing the Phoenix suburb and three of its police officers, alleging they used excessive force during a 2017 traffic stop. (Glendale Police Facebook video screenshot)
Video
Glendale Police officers use a stun gun 11 times, couple sues
(Glendale Police Department Video)
GLENDALE — A man and his wife are suing a Phoenix suburb and three of its police officers, alleging they used excessive force during a 2017 traffic stop.
A lawyer for the couple said Glendale police body camera video shows officers using a stun gun 11 times on Johnny Wheatcroft after he questioned why he had to provide identification.
Attorney Marc Victor has scheduled a news conference Monday to release the video and issue a statement about the case. He declined to do either Sunday.
Wheatcroft was a front-seat passenger in a vehicle driven by a family friend on July 26, 2017. Wheatcroft's wife, Anya Chapman, was in the backseat with the couple's two children as they headed to a motel.
Officers pulled over the car because of a traffic violation and discovered the driver didn't have a license, police said in a statement Friday. Wheatcroft declined to show police his driver's license and questioned why he had to provide identification.
The officers saw Wheatcroft reaching under his seat for a backpack and he "continued to argue, yell and physically resist" as they tried to remove him from the vehicle, police said.
The lawsuit said the situation then escalated with officers using stun guns multiple times on Wheatcroft, who was "writhing in pain while his family watched and screamed for the officers to stop."
Wheatcroft was jailed on suspicion of aggravated assault and resisting arrest, but the charges were later dropped.
The lawsuit says police used "unlawful, unnecessary, unreasonable and excessive force" on Wheatcroft and violated his civil rights. It seeks damages to be determined at trial.
Police said one of the officers involved was suspended for three days after a review.
Glendale officials and the Police Department didn't immediately return requests for comment on the lawsuit Sunday.
- Why are flags at half-staff today, Feb. 9, 2019
- Yavapai County search-and-rescue volunteers stage successful operations
- National Weather Service warns of major winter storm approaching Prescott, Prescott Valley area
- Yabba- Dabba-Done! - Fred, Wilma and the gang bid farewell as Bedrock City closes after 47 years
- How can ambulance services be improved in Quad Cities?
- Prescott City Council mulls litigation over damages from opioid epidemic
- Prescott Police arrest 59-year-old woman for allegedly operating prostitution house
- 4 to 9 inches of snow forecast for greater Prescott area
- Appeals court rejects Arizona law limiting minimum wage, benefits
- After 7 years, Prescott Community Garden closes
- Why are flags at half-staff today, Feb. 9, 2019
- Teenager killed while crossing Spouse Drive in Prescott Valley
- ‘Prescott Valley Fire’ burns about 300 acres north of Highway 89A
- Wind-driven wildfire quickly moving northeast of Prescott
- Prescott home total loss in difficult firefight
- Young Prescott man arrested for sexual assault of teen
- Multiple pedestrians struck by cars in downtown Prescott on Thursday
- Local fire departments frustrated with Life Line response times
- Missing 18-year-old found after night in woods
- Yabba- Dabba-Done! - Fred, Wilma and the gang bid farewell as Bedrock City closes after 47 years
More like this story
SUBMIT FEEDBACK
Click Below to:
This Week's Circulars
To view money-saving ads...
Community Calendar | ||
---|---|---|
TUE
19
|
Technology Help Hour
|
|
TUE
19
|
Music For Those With Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
|
|
TUE
19
|
Depression Bipolar Support Alliance
|
|
WED
20
|
Prescott Stamp Club meeting,
|
|
WED
20
|
WaterSmart: Drop by Drop
|
|
View More Events...
|
||