By C1 Staff
SONOMA COUNTY — A man TASERed 20 times by Sonoma County correctional deputies is suing the jail he was being booked into.
The Press Democrat reports that Esa Wroth had criminal charges dropped after a video of the booking was shown in court. He’s now suing, saying that his civil rights were violated.
He seeks damages for ongoing medical bills, including two dislocated shoulders and the surgical removal of a TASER barb.
The suit contends that deputies used excessive force when they knocked him, while handcuffed, t othe ground and began punching and kicking him.
Wroth also contends that they TASERed him 20 times solely to “[cause] pain and serious injury, unrelated to any legitimate law enforcement purpose.”
The suit also names Sheriff Steve Frietas for failing to train deputies and investigate the incident. Five correctional officers involved in the incident are also named.
The Sheriff’s Office did not return a call asking for comment.
Wroth was arrested on drunken driving charges in Jan. 2013 after deputies found him in his crashed vehicle. He was later tested with a blood alcohol level of 0.21 percent.
While being booked into the jail, he became uncooperative and resisted efforts to subdue him, according to jail officials.
Correctional deputies hit him to gain compliance and shocked him with TASERs during the struggle.
An internal investigation concluded that the actions were appropriate.