A black North Charleston man who says the police officer charged with the murder of Walter Scott used a Taser on him for no reason in 2013 is pursuing legal action against the city’s police department, his lawyer said on Thursday.
“In Mr Scott’s case we only have a video and a dead witness, but today we have a live witness,” said Mario Givens’s attorney Eduardo Curry.
Givens said that Officer Michael Slager banged on Givens’s front door at around 4am in September 2013 and used a Taser on him, even though he had put out his hands as requested. “He never even told me why he came,” said Givens.
“I didn’t know what was going on; he never said nothing,” said Givens. “He didn’t even announce he was police, he just pounded on the door.”
Givens filed a complaint with the North Charleston police department shortly after the incident, but says he did not hear back from the department. He said he did not know who to trust after the incident, but was put in contact with Curry after news of Scott’s death broke.
Givens also said that Clarence Habersham, the black police officer with Slager when he shot Scott, was at his house when Slager used the Taser.
Curry said that to ensure Givens receives his full legal protections, action must be taken within two years of the incident, which is in September. Curry said they will likely pursue a lawsuit and that Givens fell and suffered from injuries because of the incident.
“We believe there is a systemic problem with the city of North Charleston’s police department,” Curry said. “We believe that as the citizens start listening, we’re going to uncover other instances of where there has been aggressive behavior by the city of North Charleston police.”
He said other people have been in contact with him about their experiences with the city’s police department, which is just under 20% black. Nearly 50% of the city’s citizens are black.
Slager is currently being held at Charleston County jail without bail. Mayor Keith Summey said on Wednesday that the family will continue to receive insurance until after Slager’s wife has her baby. She is eight months pregnant.
Yolanda Whitaker told the Post and Courier on Tuesday that she witnessed the incident with Givens, who had a history of drug charges.
“I know he doesn’t have the cleanest record in the world, but he’s still due some respect,” Whitaker said. “I don’t care what neighborhood you’re from or what kind of record you have, that whole situation was uncalled for.”
