Family Sues chattanooga Police Over Fatal Shooting of Man Experiencing Mental Health Crisis
Table of Contents
A lawsuit has been filed against the Chattanooga Police Department and the City of Chattanooga by the family of Roberto Rodriguez zayas,alleging excessive force led to his death in December 2023.The suit claims officers used unreasonable force, including deploying tasers and firing 11 rounds, despite Zayas allegedly harming only himself and posing no threat to others.
Incident Details
According to the lawsuit, the incident began on December 14, 2023, when Zayas entered a Waffle House located at 7801 East Brainerd Road and began self-harming with a steak knife. Local3 News reports that Chattanooga police responded to reports of a man experiencing a mental health crisis.
Zayas fled the restaurant into a wooded area, with Officers Johnson and Davis pursuing him on foot.The complaint states that Zayas continued to inflict injuries on himself while officers gave commands to drop the knife. The lawsuit alleges that despite the officers not decreasing the distance between themselves and Zayas, they deployed tasers and ultimately fired 11 rounds, resulting in his death.
Family’s Claims
The family contends that Zayas did not threaten the officers or attempt to harm anyone other than himself. They further allege that the officers had ample prospect to de-escalate the situation and call for backup, specifically trained in handling mental health crises, but failed to do so. The lawsuit asserts that the officers acted unreasonably and violated Zayas’ civil rights through the use of excessive force.
City and police department Response
the Chattanooga Police Department acknowledged the lawsuit in an emailed statement, but declined to comment further due to the ongoing legal proceedings. WTVC NewsChannel 9 reported on the department’s response.
Allegations Against the City
Beyond the actions of the individual officers, the lawsuit also raises concerns about the City of Chattanooga’s policies, training, and supervision related to responses involving individuals experiencing mental health crises. the family argues these systemic issues contributed to Zayas’ death.
Key Takeaways
* Fatal Shooting: Roberto Rodriguez Zayas was fatally shot by Chattanooga police in december 2023 after a reported mental health crisis.
* Self-Harm: The lawsuit claims Zayas was only harming himself with a knife and did not pose a threat to officers.
* Excessive Force Alleged: The family alleges officers used excessive force, including tasers and 11 gunshots, and failed to attempt de-escalation.
* Systemic Issues: The lawsuit also targets the city’s policies and training regarding mental health crisis response.
* Ongoing legal Matter: The Chattanooga Police Department has declined to comment on the specifics of the case due to the active litigation.
This is a developing story,and further updates will be provided as they become available.
Worth a look