Civil Lawsuit Filed Against City Of Pittsburgh Over Death Of Jim Rogers
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A lawsuit has been filed over the death of Jim Rogers.
Rogers died in October a day after being tased by Pittsburgh police officers at least nine times in Bloomfield. The lawsuit names the city and the officers involved.
The lawsuit, filed by Rogers' brother, says Rogers died as a result of "excessive, unreasonable and unnecessary force." It also argues that Rogers' civil rights were violated.
Rogers' uncle, Billy Joe Jordan, told KDKA-TV on Monday that the family is focused on criminal charges.
"We are heartbroken because we loved him," he said. "He was real close to us like a son."
"I'm worried about justice for my nephew," he added. "I want the policemen prosecuted."
Eleven police officers were named in the lawsuit. The family claims excessive force, wrongful death and indifference to medical needs, among other charges.
The lawsuit goes on to say that the "brutal attack on Mr. Rogers through the repeated use of a taser on an unarmed, non-violent older gentleman was without cause or justification and undertaken recklessly, wantonly and with gross negligence."
Five officers were fired over their involvement. Three others remain on the job but are ordered to undergo more training.
WATCH: Lindsay Ward reports:
Right now, a grand jury is deciding if any officer should face criminal charges.
"I want to say this to (Allegheny County District Attorney) Steven Zappala. Whatever the grand jury comes up with ... you've seen the tapes, you know this is murder, you know this is excessive force," Jordan said. "I hope you do the right thing. My family would appreciate it."
The city released a statement Monday, saying:
"Today in Federal Court the family of Jim Rogers filed a suit against the City of Pittsburgh and certain city police officers for a violation of his civil rights. A lawsuit must be filed in order to allow the family to view the footage from the police worn body cameras and other discovery. At this time the police worn body camera footage cannot be made available to the public and ACT 22 exempts the footage from Right to Know requests.
"Because of the statutes that govern the release of police reports and body camera footage, namely ACT 22 and the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA), the City of Pittsburgh can only make the footage available to the family after a federal lawsuit is filed.
"Both parties will file a motion to stay the federal lawsuit."
