The family of a 43-year-old autistic man has launched a $9-million lawsuit against Toronto police, alleging officers unnecessarily Tasered and beat him.
The suit claims that George Lochner, who also suffers from cerebral palsy, was hit with the stun gun at least five times in August 2006.
The family accuses the police of illegally entering their Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue home and bursting into Lochner's room where he was in bed.
The family's defence lawyer, Clayton Ruby, told reporters on Tuesday that the man was sleeping and unarmed when he was hit.
Police say they were investigating a complaint from a neighbour and that they were looking for Lochner's brother Silvano. Officers said the man attacked and lunged at the police and had to be subdued. The family denies the claim.
Ruby said the case brings up serious questions about the use of Tasers by police.
"(The suit) seeks an end to the pervasive use of Tasers," he told reporters. "(Toronto Police) Chief Bill Blair is addicted to Tasers and that addiction has got to stop."
With a report from CTV Toronto's Chris Eby
