NEWPORT, R.I. –A man who says he was tased by a uniform police officer has filed a claim with the city for $25,000 in damages for medical expenses and personal anguish.
According to a complaint submitted to City Council members late last month, Colin Millar claims that he was stunned by a uniformed Newport Police Department officer with a taser at a private residence on Sept. 11 while signing up for a charity event.
The incident allegedly occurred at the home of Robert Marvelle, located at 53 Coggeshall Ave.
“When Mr. Millar arrived at Mr. Marvelle’s home, Mr. Marvelle indicated that he had to put his young children to sleep and that he would return momentarily,” the complaint, written by Millar’s attorney Matthew Plain, reads. “Mr. Millar waited for Mr. Marvelle to return in a room lit only by a hallway light. When Mr. Marvelle returned, Mr. Millar followed him towards a dark room to go sign (a) waiver. However, when Mr. Millar approached the unlit room, a red laser dot was pointed at the center of his chest. At that point, Mr. Millar looked up and saw the shadow of a person standing directly in front of him. Mr. Millar was then, without warning or justification, struck in the chest with two taser prongs. Both the impact and the electronic current of the taser prongs caused Mr. Millar’s body to convulse and his knees to buckle. He also experienced immediate pain to his chest and upper body.”
“At that point, a uniformed, Newport Police Officer came forward with the taser in his hand. He indicated, seemingly without emotion or remorse, that the tase was intended as a ‘joke.’”
According to the complaint, Millar hurriedly signed the waiver form, paid the entry fee and left. Upon reaching the nearby corner of Victoria Avenue and Bellevue, Millar called 911 to report the incident. However, Millar contends that the operator didn’t take his call seriously, “eventually [stating] that she would send a patrol car.”
Shortly thereafter, Millar made another call to 911, this time to request an ambulance.
In the minutes that passed, Millar contends that two police cars passed him despite attempts to flag them down, and another 911 call had to be made before officers responded to the scene.
Due to the claim, a spokesperson for the Newport Police Department was couldn’t say much about Millar’s charges, however did confirm that an incident did take place and an internal investigation is ongoing.
“We are taking this matter very seriously,” Lt. Dan Dvorak said in a statement on Monday, adding that “In light of the claim we have no further comment at this point.”
In his claim, Millar claims that when the paramedic questioned him about the incident, the police officer on scene said that the taser was “accidentally” discharged.
Shortly after, Millar was transported to Newport Hospital where he was treated for his injuries. As a result of the incident, the claim contends that he “suffered and continues to suffer personal injuries, pain and suffering, and mental anguish,”
He is asking to be compensated $961 in medical expenses and another $24,039 in pain and suffering.
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Newport, RI
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Don’t know the people involved but just taking this article as written the local police need to get themselves in order. Being tazed is not a joke and the officer should be made to pay for his “joke” by removal. He has proved that he is incapable of serious decision making capabilities. I hope that this is followed up on. No town or city needs a cop on its staff that thinks that tazing an innocent civilian is a “joke”.
Not enough information here to put the whole thing in context. Why was the first room only lit by a hallway light? What was a uniformed cop doing there in the dark back room? Did any of these people know each other? Tasing somebody is no joke, although the number of kids who do it to each other for fun on YouTube videos would seem to indicate otherwise. It just sounds like there’s more to this story than people are telling.
Indeed as 5th warder says we don’t know much. This incident as reported here and in NTW is an extreme case of police-gone-bad. And where is the outcry from the public? And why no coverage from the Newport Daily Fishwraper? It is now over two months since the date of the incident and very few officials have said anything to assure the public about how it is being handled and to provide substantive answers to the question raised above and more. Where is the Council with regard to inquiry to the Chief and City Manager? Are all officials just hoping it will go away? Is the officer in question still on the payroll? HELLO!!!
This sounds like a case for either FBI or, at a minimum, State Police investigation. How is it being handled by Newport Police? I am sure that with most officers being of excellent character, they would want to have this rogue handled by an outside agency.
NPD are a bunch of common criminals hiding behind badges & I don’t doubt for a second that this happened exactly like the victim said.
I was jumped, beaten & falsely arrested by NPD for attempting to exercise my 1st Ammendment Right, on may 2, 2004
I was maliciously prosecuted to justify their actions, but was found NOT-GUILTY of alll charges by a Superior Court Jury.
I sued City & was awarded a settlement. Nothing was done to anyone involved, after a biased NPD Internal Affairs “supposed” investigation.
My story was covered-up so well, many people (including City Councilors & such) aren’t even aware I ever filed the suit?
NPD needs to be thourougly investigated by somebody outside the State of RI!