Burned West Virginia Man Seeks $40 Million in Suit against Police

By Robin Chang

Published on November 07, 2007

Steven C. Scott, of Ranson, WV, was arrested on October 23, 2006 after allegedly failing to return a 2001 Lexus SUV to a used car reseller after taking the vehicle out for a test drive several hours earlier. After officers pulled Scott over, he allegedly refused to comply with the arresting officers by not exiting the vehicle, forcing them to use force.

The lawsuit, which names the West Virginia State Police, Berkeley Country Sheriff’s Department, Ranson Police Department, the City of Ranson, Berkeley County Commission, each agency’s leader, and 10 yet unnamed individuals as defendants, claims that Mr. Scott received severe burns as a result of officers negligently using a Taser and CAP-STUN, a pepper spray, at the same time, leading to a flash fire that ignited Mr. Scott’s clothing.

An attorney representing Mr. Scott said that his client stopped taking his medication for schizophrenia several days before the incident. The complaint alleges that the officers used excessive force and committed assault, battery, and negligence in their arrest procedure for Mr. Scott.

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