Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Pamela Farley are demanding justice for Thomas Farley, who was reportedly paralyzed after an encounter with Palm Bay police. Farley's mother, Pamela, expressed her devastation, stating, "He didn't deserve none of this... he can't feel himself... he doesn't even want to live."
The incident occurred on June 28, when Thomas Farley, who had just left work, stopped at a Circle K on Babcock Road. Palm Bay police officers responded to a call about a group acting aggressively and, upon arrival, found Farley hiding in the bushes. Although Farley had committed no crime, attorney Crump stated that "Thomas is tased repeatedly... he should have never been tased." Crump claims Farley was tased multiple times, causing him to fall and suffer a neck injury that led to paralysis.
Farley's family is calling for any criminal charges against him to be dismissed, as these charges are hindering his access to adequate rehabilitation. Crump contends that the incident involved "a cover-up and use of excessive force," adding, "if anyone should face charges, it should be the Palm Bay police officer who tased him."
The Palm Bay Police Department responded by outlining their account of events, noting that officers initially responded to reports of suspicious individuals at Circle K. When officers arrived, some individuals fled, including Farley, who reportedly ignored repeated commands to stop running and attempted to evade police by jumping over a fence. According to the department, after multiple verbal commands were ignored, "the officer legally deployed his department-issued Taser," after which Farley was taken into custody and provided medical assistance.
Palm Bay Police stated that each incident involving force undergoes a "complete review" and claimed that an investigation determined the officer's actions were "legal and justifiable." They affirmed their commitment to "integrity, honor, and respect," assuring the public that a thorough review process was conducted to evaluate the use of force, consistent with department policy and state law.
Link: WESH
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