95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon

Man sues police after police sergeant uses stun gun at fire

Wikimedia | Matty Ring | CC BY 2.0

A man in his 60s is suing police in western Michigan after he says a police sergeant used a stun gun to subdue him after his house caught fire.

WZZM-TV and The Grand Rapids Press report the recent lawsuit from Robert W. Burt Jr. names the Grandville police department and the sergeant as defendants.

Burt says police used excessive force, violated his constitutional rights and essentially assaulted him.

Grandville City Manager Ken Krombeen says he couldn't comment on the pending litigation.

The attic of Burt's home caught fire about 9 p.m. on June 2, 2014.

About 2 a.m., Burt went under yellow police tape at the home.

The lawsuit says the sergeant told Burt to stay behind the tape.

Burt didn't comply, so the officer used the stun gun.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email