Appeals court allows trial over police stun-gun death

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The mother of a man who died after being hit with a stun by Cleveland police can have a trial on most of her claims against the officers and the city under a federal appeals court ruling.

Forty-year-old Rodney Brown died on New Year’s Eve in 2010 after being pulled over for allegedly not having his headlights on. Brown was struck in the chest with a police stun gun and died before paramedics arrived. A police radio captured an officer replying with a vulgarity when Brown told him he couldn’t breathe.

Appeals were filed with the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals last year after a U.S. District Court judge issued rulings for both sides. The 6th Circuit issued its rulings Friday.

A Cleveland spokesman declined to comment Friday.