Maine man says jail guards used Taser on him for 1 minute; sues claiming excessive force, torture

A former inmate at the York County Jail said his constitutional rights were violated when officers used a Taser to subdue him after his arrest.Brian Dunnigan is suing York County, the sheriff and three jail guards, claiming excessive force and torture.Dunnigan's lawyer said some of the details and photographic evidence that would be presented at trial are disturbing.Dunnigan was arrested in February 2018 for disorderly conduct and taken to the York County Jail.Dunnigan claims that he was placed in a cell alone, and three officers came in. Two pinned him down, while a third sat on his chest and used a Taser on him for one minute, he said.He admitted he was verbally aggressive because he is diabetic and he needed medicine.Dunnigan's lawyer, Benjamin Donahue, said he will prove jail staffers used excessive force."Regardless of what he was doing, what he was saying, he was in a jail cell. He didn't pose a threat -- a physical threat -- to anyone. He was in a jail cell by himself," Donahue said.York County Sheriff Bill King said he could not comment on the allegations against his jail guards because of the pending litigation.The lawsuit was filed in federal court Friday. If the case makes it to trial, it would likely happen in about 18 months.

A former inmate at the York County Jail said his constitutional rights were violated when officers used a Taser to subdue him after his arrest.

Brian Dunnigan is suing York County, the sheriff and three jail guards, claiming excessive force and torture.


Dunnigan's lawyer said some of the details and photographic evidence that would be presented at trial are disturbing.

Dunnigan was arrested in February 2018 for disorderly conduct and taken to the York County Jail.

Dunnigan claims that he was placed in a cell alone, and three officers came in. Two pinned him down, while a third sat on his chest and used a Taser on him for one minute, he said.

He admitted he was verbally aggressive because he is diabetic and he needed medicine.

Dunnigan's lawyer, Benjamin Donahue, said he will prove jail staffers used excessive force.

"Regardless of what he was doing, what he was saying, he was in a jail cell. He didn't pose a threat -- a physical threat -- to anyone. He was in a jail cell by himself," Donahue said.

York County Sheriff Bill King said he could not comment on the allegations against his jail guards because of the pending litigation.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court Friday. If the case makes it to trial, it would likely happen in about 18 months.