Mooner Says Deputies Beat Him Senseless

COLUMBUS, Ohio (CN) - A man says Franklin County sheriff's deputies savagely beat and Tasered him in jail, breaking his jaw and knocking out three teeth, after arresting him for mooning his garbageman.

Clarence Haines says sheriff's deputies arrested him "for 'mooning' his garbageman, who would not take the garbage away from plaintiff's home."

He was taken to the county jail, and "was attempting to dry off and put clothes on after taking a shower, when defendants Rodney Howell, Paul Tulloch and Mark Montrose approached" him, Haines says. All are sheriff's deputies, according to the complaint in Franklin County Court.

He says the deputies ordered him to put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed, and he complied immediately. Nonetheless, he says, Howell "escalated the situation" without cause, "violently and excessively forc[ing] plaintiff to the ground by his head for no apparent reason, as plaintiff was complying with all of the defendants' commands."

Howell then sat on his as Montrose "repeatedly and excessively stunned plaintiff with a Taser gun," while Howell, still sitting on him, "repeatedly and excessively punch[ed] plaintiff numerous times in the face," Haines says.

Haines says the deputies knew that he "wasn't taking his medications and were also aware of his present mental condition and illness." The condition and illness are not elucidated.

After Howell beat him bloody, Montrose Tasered him again, Haines says. The beating left him with a broken jaw, three teeth knocked out, bruised ribs and a swollen hand, he says. He needed two surgeries to fix his jaw.

Haines seeks punitive damages for civil rights violations, excessive force, assault, failure to train and supervise, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and constitutional violations. He sued the three officers and Sheriff Jim Karnes.

Haines is represented by David Shroyer with Colley Shroyer & Abraham.

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