$1 million settlement in death of inmate from Oakland Oakland man was Tasered in confrontation

Alameda County and a company that provides health care for jail inmates have agreed to pay $1 million to settle a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of the youngest child of an inmate who died in 2010 after being stunned by Taser shock weapons during a confrontation with sheriff's deputies.

The county and Corizon Health Inc., which contracts with the county to provide health services at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, will split the costs of the payout in connection with the death of Martin Harrison, 50, of Oakland.

"No amount of money can replace the loss of Mr. Harrison's life for his young son, particularly given the closeness of their relationship," said John Burris, the family's attorney. "Hopefully, this case will have the impact of improving the policies, procedures and conduct of the deputies and medical personnel in the future when presented with a similar situation as Mr. Harrison."

A suit filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco on behalf of the child said Harrison was the victim of excessive force by deputies and that his death was "brutal, malicious and done without just provocation or cause."

But Sheriff Greg Ahern has said jail deputies "used only the force needed to get the subject under control."

Harrison had been arrested by Oakland police for allegedly driving while intoxicated. He was acting erratically while in custody on Aug. 16, 2010, breaking a food tray and flooding his cell by overflowing his toilet, according to sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Nelson.

Deputies found Harrison hiding behind a mattress, and the inmate told them that someone was trying to kill him, authorities said.

Harrison charged at deputies and tried to gain access to one deputy's Taser shock weapon when they tried to handcuff him to move him to another cell so his could be cleaned, Nelson said.

Two deputies shocked Harrison with Tasers. Harrison was taken to the jail's medical center, where he collapsed that night, Nelson said. The deputies were cleared of wrongdoing by a department investigation, Ahern said.

Harrison died at a hospital two days later. The coroner determined that he had died of lack of oxygen to the brain due to cardiac arrest after the confrontation.

Four adult children have filed a separate lawsuit in the case that is pending.