Police Sued Over Taser Gun Death at Jail
By Matt Green
Published on September 26, 2005
The wrongful death lawsuit accuses deputies of using excessive force against Ray Charles Austin. The 24-year-old died shortly after being choked, punched and shocked repeatedly with a Taser stun gun.
Police officials refused to comment.
Austin is the second inmate at Gwinnett jail to die after being shocked with a Taser. Frederick Williams died in a similar altercation eight months after Austin. Williams' family plans to sue.
In September 2003, jail medical staff decided to medicate Austin -- a diagnosed schizophrenic -- to calm him down.
Upon exiting his cell, Austin wrestled with deputies, even biting off part of an officer's ear. According to the lawsuit, deputies punched Austin and shocked him eight times with a Taser. Austin was restrained in a chair and injected with psychotropic drugs.
Gwinnett's medical examiner said Austin died of a heart attack but the autopsy couldn't determine what caused it.
The lawsuit says the jail's staff ignored a doctor's warning to not forcefully medicate Austin. This warning appeared in his jail medical file.
The suit also says the staff violated Austin's right to refuse medical treatment. Austin had signed paperwork allowing him to refuse treatment.
The suit names Sheriff Butch Conway, three deputies, and Prison Health Services, a Nashville-based company that provides medical services for the jail.
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