Pasadena will pay $1.5 million to the family of Reginald Thomas (pictured) who died after being stunned with a Taser and subdued by police responding to a domestic disturbance call
Pasadena will pay $1.5 million to the family of a man armed with a knife who died after being stunned with a Taser and subdued by police responding to a domestic disturbance call.
The claim filed against the city alleged officers used violent physical force on Reginald Thomas, a 35-year-old African-American man.
The father-of-eight died in 2016 following a struggle with police outside his apartment.
Six police officers responded to a number of 911 calls at the apartment complex on September 30.
They found Thomas outside the door holding a fire extinguisher and a dagger under his arm, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Officials said police were trying to protect Thomas’ wife and four small children.
Reginald Thomas’ family are pictured as they gathered to share witness accounts at a press conference in front of the Pasadena Police Department on October 3, 2016
Police said he appeared to be on drugs, but his family said he had a history of mental illness.
Thomas didn’t comply with orders, a Taser was used to disarm him and a fight ensued, police said.
He died at the apartment complex.
‘A struggled ensued, Thomas later became unresponsive and the officers immediately commenced CPR,’ the city’s statement said.
‘Expert investigators determined that Thomas’ death was not caused by the use of force by police in their efforts to restrain him, but rather by Thomas’ ingestion of lethal levels of illegal narcotics, including PCP and methamphetamine, which had caused his erratic behavior.’
Protesters are seen walking on Garfield Avenue adjacent to the Pasadena City Hall in a candlelight vigil for Reginald Thomas in 2016
None of the officers involved in the incident or placed on leave since Thomas died, the Times reports, despite protests.
The family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in November 2016 claiming officers used excessive force and that there was a conspiracy to cover up the recklessness of the officers involved.
City News Service reports Sunday that police and the city, in approving the settlement, said they do not admit liability or fault.