Shocking bodycam footage shows moment erratic driver screams in agony as he is pinned down by cops and repeatedly Tasered as he lies dying
The family of James Greer are suing police in Hayward, California for using excessive force after he died in custody
THE family of a man who died during a police sobriety test have accused cops of using excessive force.
Bodycam footage has been released showing police Tasering James Greer, 46 , and trying to put him in handcuffs.
Greer was pulled over on suspicion of drink driving on 23 May 2014 in Hayward, California.
It is thought that he went out to buy lottery tickets.
The uneasy man becomes suspicious of police when they try to test his balance.
When Greer steps away from officer administering the test, he is quickly surrounded by a large group of cops.
In shocking scenes, Greer is tackled to the ground and Tasered by police.
He can be heard repeatedly screaming “What are you doing?” as the cops start to Taser him.
Police holding him down tell him to stay calm and to put his hands behind his back.
Even though Greer explains to police that he has a stomach hernia and a knee injury, cops appear to put pressure on his back as they try to hold him down.
The police warn him that he will be Tasered if he does not allow himself to be handcuffed.
When they start to Taser him again, he screams out in pain.
After a while, Greer falls silent and goes limp.
Police check his pulse and shout “wake up” at his unconscious body.
He was rushed to hospital and was pronounced dead at 11.49pm.
The coroner ruled that the cause of death was “PCP intoxication associated with physical exertion.”
But Greer’s son Joseph is suing Hayward and BART police over the incident.
His family think that the use of the Taser had a role in Greer’s death.
Joseph Greer’s lawyer, Fulvio Cajina said: "We are extremely concerned by the multiple use of Tasers and all of the pressure put on Mr. Greer's back while he was in a prone position.
"But the most appalling part of the video to me personally is the amount of time that goes by between when the officers know Mr. Greer isn't breathing and when chest compressions begin."
Cajina alleges that seven minutes went by before police officers started to administer CPR.
Ex-wife Deana Greer said: “I was in shock.
"He was kind of the glue that always kept everyone together.”
Criminologist Tom Nolan said: "I don't think I've ever seen such a hyper-exaggerated, borderline-hysterical response.
"We don't need 20-plus police officers, including superior officers, on the scene to take a guy into custody for a drunken driving offense."
Nolan was also critical of the use of the Taser.
Police used the drive-stun mode, which is meant to help suspects comply with demands.
But Nolan says that this mode doesn’t work when suspects are drunk or have mental health issues.
He said: "I'd say that the heavy hand of the Taser is what contributed to this guy's demise.”
When Greer died, police didn’t record the fact that he died in custody.
His death was not investigated by the District Attorney.
The Greer family have released the bodycam footage in a bid to prove that James Greer was not the aggressor.
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