The City of Bakersfield is facing a legal claim from a domestic violence suspect who had to be hospitalized after a struggle with police.
Driving the news: Last month Jason Dean Crawford filed a claim against the city, alleging false arrest, assault and negligence by the Bakersfield police officers who arrested him on May 5.
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- The claim, filed by Crawford’s attorneys from the Law Offices of Dale K. Galipo, states that Crawford suffers from a mental health disorder and was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the incident.
- According to the claim, officers deployed Tasers against Crawford, causing him to fall and impact his head. They then mounted on top of him and began repeatedly striking him in the face and head with full force, as well as using batons.
- Previously, police have released footage which shows officers using fists, a baton and a Taser after Crawford ignored commands and resisted arrests.
- Police had been dispatched to an apartment after a woman reported that Crawford, who was under the influence of methamphetamine, had attempted to stab someone with a pen.
- Crawford was hospitalized and spent time in a coma before being booked into jail and charged with crimes including kidnapping and spousal abuse.
- Crawford has prior convictions for making terroristic threats, grand theft of property, and recklessly evading a peace officer, and also faces charges in a separate case of possession of a gun and ammunition by a felon.
