In San Anselmo, California, Bruce Frankel, 61, is suing the Central Marin Police Authority following an incident where officers used a Taser on him and arrested him during a grand mal seizure in his bedroom, an event recorded on body camera. Alice Frankel called 911 early in the morning because her husband, Bruce Frankel, was unresponsive. Upon arrival, an officer mistakenly assessed Bruce, who was actually recovering from a seizure and appeared disoriented, as being intoxicated. The lawsuit, filed in Marin County Superior Court, accuses the police of battery, false arrest, defamation, and concocting a false narrative to justify their actions.
"If the police had just asked [my wife] Alice two questions, 'What's going on?' and 'Has this happened before?' We wouldn't be here today," Frankel told KTVU in an interview. "But that officer did not do that at all. He assumed he knew what was going on and attacked me."
Police Chief Michael Norton has denied the allegations, stating the litigation is baseless. The case highlights concerns over police training in handling medical emergencies and the appropriateness of using force in such situations. Frankel, who was diagnosed with epilepsy, emphasizes the need for police to be trained to recognize and appropriately respond to neurological events.
"The tasing of someone who has just had a neurological event is extremely dangerous," Frankel said. "Part of what I want out of this is proper police training, how to identify these events. There are these types of issues going on around the country, especially in smaller departments."
The incident, which occurred on August 29, 2022, also involves accusations against the responding officers of creating a misleading cover story to defend their use of force, leading to Frankel facing unjust charges, including domestic violence.
Despite the charges being dropped, Frankel expresses profound psychological distress and skepticism towards receiving an apology from the police. His story raises significant questions about police response to medical emergencies and the systemic issues within police practices.
Link: KTVU