Colorado Springs Settles Taser Death Case for $3.2M

Colorado Springs Settles Taser Death Case for $3.2M

Introduction

The City of Colorado Springs has agreed to pay $3.2 million to settle a lawsuit over the 2018 death of a man who was repeatedly struck with a Taser while resisting being handcuffed.

City councilors discussed the matter in a closed session before voting 6-2 in favor of the settlement during a brief public meeting. The amount was confirmed by the Deputy City Council Administrator and announced by attorneys for the victim’s family.

Case Linked to Broader Investigation on Police Use of Force

The victim’s death was among cases examined in a 2024 Associated Press investigation into incidents where hundreds of people died despite officers using force intended to be non-lethal. The review found many fatalities involved techniques that restricted breathing or excessive Taser deployments.

Officer Testimony Highlights Training Gaps

One of the two Colorado Springs officers involved testified that he was unaware of the dangers of administering more than three Taser shocks. Both officers fired a total of eight times. At the time, the department’s policy permitted continued Taser use until the individual’s behavior changed. Internal reviews concluded the officers acted within policy.

City Maintains Settlement Is Not an Admission of Wrongdoing

The Colorado Springs Police Department stated the settlement decision was made by the city’s insurance provider, not by the department itself. Officials emphasized that the payout does not reflect an acknowledgment of inadequate training or misconduct.

“While CSPD respects the contractual authority of our insurance carrier to force a settlement in this case, which they did, we do not agree with that decision and were prepared to proceed with a trial,” the statement read.