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Press Release
Taser Torture
Tased 11 times, Found Not Guilty – All Charges
Photographic evidence and police records show that Josue Tapia, a frail 150 pound 5’9” Hispanic gentleman was tased 11 times and lived. Charged with 4 felony counts and facing decades in prison, last Thursday, a cook county jury found him not guilty of all charges. Tapia now fights back with a federal lawsuit alleging that Chicago Officers tortured him in public view, sending him to the hospital for seven days.
On May 15, 2010, Josue Tapia was stopped by Chicago Officers for a minor traffic violation (slow rolling stop at a stop sign). Subsequently, Chicago Officers Skarpinski and Rooney performed a criminal background check. Finding nothing, he was released. Minutes later, the on-board computer returned a message indicating that a person with a similar name (J. Tapia), 12 years older, 20 pounds lighter, 6 inches smaller and living 40 miles away, had an outstanding warrant. Seconds later, Skarpunski and Rooney “observed” Tapia commit another series of minor traffic violations. He was stopped, pushed up to the side of his vehicle and thrown to the ground. Photographic and medical evidence, as well as official City of Chicago taser logs, demonstrate that Tapia was then tased 11 times, punched and kicked.
“He was electrocuted, and treated worse then an animal” says his civil rights lawyer, Blake Horwitz. “Something must be done to stop torture by Chicago Officers and we aim to do so by the filing of this lawsuit”.
Chicago police officers claimed that Tapia was under the influence of alcohol and/or PCP, justifying the rapid fire use of electricity. However, testimony from Dr. Atassi, the emergency room physician explained that a thorough blood test showed the absence of any drugs, including alcohol and PCP.
Accomplished criminal defense attorney, Dennis Giovannini along with Blake Horwitz defended Mr. Tapia at the criminal trial. On November 3, 2011, the jury returned a not guilty verdict on all counts, before the Honorable Judge Kazmierski, room 400 at the 26th Street Criminal Court building. Tapia was charged with two counts of felony aggravated battery and two counts of felony aggravated resisting arrest. “The jury obviously did not buy the lame excuse of the police officers for the treatment of Mr. Tapia” said Dennis Giovannini.
The Blake Horwitz Law Firm
39 South LaSalle Street
Suite 1515
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Telephone: 312-676-2100
Facsimile: 312-445-8741
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