04-17-2007, 05:19 AM
Johnnie Cochran's Firm Representing Family of Mentally Ill Man Killed by Officers With Taser Gun
PENSACOLA, Fla., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cochran Firm, founded by
Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. is representing the family of Jerry Preyer; a
mentally ill Escambia, Florida County jail inmate who was killed last year
after being shot repeatedly with a Taser gun.
A total of five officers attempted to subdue the small-framed 5-foot-2
man, that weighed approximately 150-pounds after he began displaying
erratic behavior.
Preyer was placed in a restraint chair near his isolation cell, where
the officers ended up shooting him numerous times with a Taser gun.
Testimony at the inquest hearing indicated the Taser was fired at least 11
times.
An Escambia inmate testified in a judicial proceeding last month, that
he heard a jail deputy running towards Preyer's isolation cell stating
"we're gonna have some fun". This statement was made just before a group of
officers repeatedly tasered Preyer.
"The situation is simply tragic," states attorney Joe Lane of The
Cochran Firm.
"My client suffered from a mental disorder; there was a tremendous lack
of attentiveness to his disease and the symptoms that his diseased caused,"
Lane continues.
Preyer's autopsy report states at the time of death, he had several
wounds on his body. In addition to several fractured ribs, he had a 3-inch
vertical abrasion on his back and several deep abrasions throughout his
chest and abdomen; consistent with being shot with a taser gun.
Arrested on May 31, 2006 on aggravated battery charges, Preyer was
being held in Escambia County jail on charges of failure to appear in court
for an arraignment.
The Escambia jail facility was made aware that Preyer suffered from a
mental disorder after he was jailed on May 31, when Preyer told a jail
official that he took medication for schizoid affective disorder.
His file from Lakeview Center, a Pensacola mental-health facility, was
faxed to the jail June 1, 2006, but a physician did not see the records
until a week and a half later, on June 13th. The doctor relayed the message
that Preyer could take the medications, but the medicines did not reach him
in time, as was reported by The Pensacola News Journal.
The Florida Palm Beach Post reported in 2005 that Florida led the
nation in Taser-associated deaths.
In August of 2005, another inmate who had been shot with a Taser gun by
Escambia County deputies was found dead. A lawsuit concerning this death is
currently in litigation.
Jerome Carter, attorney with The Cochran Firm - Mobile stated, "The
fact is 5 white deputies at the Escambia County jail tortured a mentally
ill black man with a Taser Gun in his isolation cell. He died as a result.
Why did they do it? Because they thought it would be fun to see Jerry
Preyer dance around as 50,000 volts coursed through his body."
Carter continued, "These deputies previously testified that Jerry had
'super human strength,' and he was throwing them around like rag dolls. If
5 deputies cannot restrain a 5'2, 140 lbs mentally ill man, why are they
working in the county jail?"
"What makes this so inexcusable is that Jerry was not the first inmate
to die in the Escambia County Jail after being shot with a Taser gun. How
many more have to die before something is done? We plan to take this case
to trial and expose this ugliness so it never happens again," declared
Carter.
As it is known today, The Cochran Firm currently has 20 offices across
the nation, located in 15 states. It has established itself as one of the
premier plaintiffs' litigation and criminal defense law firms in the
nation.
More than a celebrity lawyer, Johnnie Cochran made an impact on the
American justice system. He was relentless in his efforts to make a
difference in the community and the lives of the clients he represented.
PENSACOLA, Fla., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cochran Firm, founded by
Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. is representing the family of Jerry Preyer; a
mentally ill Escambia, Florida County jail inmate who was killed last year
after being shot repeatedly with a Taser gun.
A total of five officers attempted to subdue the small-framed 5-foot-2
man, that weighed approximately 150-pounds after he began displaying
erratic behavior.
Preyer was placed in a restraint chair near his isolation cell, where
the officers ended up shooting him numerous times with a Taser gun.
Testimony at the inquest hearing indicated the Taser was fired at least 11
times.
An Escambia inmate testified in a judicial proceeding last month, that
he heard a jail deputy running towards Preyer's isolation cell stating
"we're gonna have some fun". This statement was made just before a group of
officers repeatedly tasered Preyer.
"The situation is simply tragic," states attorney Joe Lane of The
Cochran Firm.
"My client suffered from a mental disorder; there was a tremendous lack
of attentiveness to his disease and the symptoms that his diseased caused,"
Lane continues.
Preyer's autopsy report states at the time of death, he had several
wounds on his body. In addition to several fractured ribs, he had a 3-inch
vertical abrasion on his back and several deep abrasions throughout his
chest and abdomen; consistent with being shot with a taser gun.
Arrested on May 31, 2006 on aggravated battery charges, Preyer was
being held in Escambia County jail on charges of failure to appear in court
for an arraignment.
The Escambia jail facility was made aware that Preyer suffered from a
mental disorder after he was jailed on May 31, when Preyer told a jail
official that he took medication for schizoid affective disorder.
His file from Lakeview Center, a Pensacola mental-health facility, was
faxed to the jail June 1, 2006, but a physician did not see the records
until a week and a half later, on June 13th. The doctor relayed the message
that Preyer could take the medications, but the medicines did not reach him
in time, as was reported by The Pensacola News Journal.
The Florida Palm Beach Post reported in 2005 that Florida led the
nation in Taser-associated deaths.
In August of 2005, another inmate who had been shot with a Taser gun by
Escambia County deputies was found dead. A lawsuit concerning this death is
currently in litigation.
Jerome Carter, attorney with The Cochran Firm - Mobile stated, "The
fact is 5 white deputies at the Escambia County jail tortured a mentally
ill black man with a Taser Gun in his isolation cell. He died as a result.
Why did they do it? Because they thought it would be fun to see Jerry
Preyer dance around as 50,000 volts coursed through his body."
Carter continued, "These deputies previously testified that Jerry had
'super human strength,' and he was throwing them around like rag dolls. If
5 deputies cannot restrain a 5'2, 140 lbs mentally ill man, why are they
working in the county jail?"
"What makes this so inexcusable is that Jerry was not the first inmate
to die in the Escambia County Jail after being shot with a Taser gun. How
many more have to die before something is done? We plan to take this case
to trial and expose this ugliness so it never happens again," declared
Carter.
As it is known today, The Cochran Firm currently has 20 offices across
the nation, located in 15 states. It has established itself as one of the
premier plaintiffs' litigation and criminal defense law firms in the
nation.
More than a celebrity lawyer, Johnnie Cochran made an impact on the
American justice system. He was relentless in his efforts to make a
difference in the community and the lives of the clients he represented.