The grieving family of a 23-year-old father who passed away after his neck was damaged during a violent arrest are now suing Texas police.
Jorge Gonzalez Zuniga was having a BBQ party with his friends on April 11 when he fell asleep in his friend’s yard.
Cops patrolling the area spotted Zuniga, woke him up, and ordered him to go home.
During the violent arrest, Zuniga was tased multiple times, pepper-sprayed, had his neck damaged, pushed to the ground, placed in ankle restraints and was handcuffed.
His mugshot was then taken, with officers holding up his head.
However, he was later found unconscious in his cell and had a swollen spinal cord, a severe cervical fracture, and was paralyzed.
Sadly, he passed away in the hospital two months later, and now his grieving family are suing the cops in a wrongful death lawsuit.
The prosecution states that Mr. Zuniga followed their orders and was ready to go home when cops suddenly decided to arrest him for ‘public intoxication and disobeying COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, two minor, non-violent misdemeanors that were both later dismissed.’
It also added that he was intentionally tripped and when he could not get up while shackled, the father was tased.
The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement: “Mr. Zuniga refused to cooperate and became physically agitated, verbally abusive, and strongly resisted efforts to be taken into custody.”
The legal complaint filed by attorney Thomas J. Henry Law reads: “Despite the obvious injuries, including a large swollen neck, cuts and contusions, the jail officials acted with deliberate indifference and at no time sent Mr. Zuniga for medical evaluation or treatment. Instead, he was thrown into the ‘drunk tank’ and left alone.”
The lawsuit adds: “Mr. Zuniga was left in his cell for over twenty-one hours without any medical attention. Finally…twenty-one hours after his booking, someone at the jail checked on him. He was found to be non-responsive.”
He was taken to a hospital where he was diagnosed with ‘a severe cervical fracture, a swollen spinal cord and was a quadriplegic.’
Lawyers allege that Mr. Zuniga’s injuries and untimely death were due to the ‘absolute deliberate and unconscionable indifference of the deputies and the jail staff.
The father’s devastated wife, Johana Zuniga, said: “My husband and I were parents of a one-year-old baby – my husband didn’t deserve to be treated in such an unfair way. We only ask for justice because of the pain that my family and I feel will not be taken away.
“My husband was a hardworking man, and his son was his world for him. My son will not be able to know his dad, nor be able to call someone dad.’
“They took my companion – the love of my life. I only ask for justice in the name of my husband which is what he deserves and what he asked for before he passed.”
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this story with your friends and family!
Replaced!