Florida man paralyzed after being tased by Palm Bay police officer, family alleges

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Updated  October 30, 2024 7:41pm EDT
FOX 35 Orlando
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Man paralyzed after being tased by an officer

A Florida man was left paralyzed after reportedly being tased multiple times by police while fleeing during an encounter in June. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump has taken up the case, pressing for the dismissal of charges against Farley.

PALM BAY, Fla. - A Florida man was left paralyzed after reportedly being tased multiple times while fleeing a Palm Bay police officer during an encounter in June. 

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump has taken up the case, pressing for the dismissal of charges against Thomas Farley. He spoke alongside Attorney LaFonda Middleton, Attorney Natalie Jackson and Farley's family, in a "call for accountability" from the Palm Bay Police Department and to push for charges against officer Mitchell.

The incident began when Farley and friends were accused of loitering outside a Circle K gas station. According to Farley’s family, he broke his neck after falling from a fence when tased six times by Palm Bay police Officer Derrick Mitchell. Body camera footage captured Farley telling officers, "I broke my neck, sir," followed by, "I can’t feel my lower body."

Farley’s mother, Pam, shared her anguish, saying her son, now 32, cannot walk or feed himself. 

"It breaks my heart. He doesn’t even want to live," she said.

Thomas Farley

Crump is also calling for the Palm Bay Police Department to drop the charges against Farley immediately.

"These charges need to be dropped, and this young man needs medical care." 

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Farley faces charges of loitering, possession of a controlled substance, and resisting without violence, which his legal team claims are unwarranted. 

"Many people fear interacting with police, especially at night, when you’re a Black or brown man," said attorney Natalie Jackson.

Body camera footage also shows the officer who tased Farley expressing concern, saying, "I got no crime," to another officer at the scene. Jackson added, "What was done to Thomas Farley was clearly unlawful and excessive force."

Palm Bay police maintain that the officer's actions were justified. After an internal review of body camera footage and reports, the department concluded the use of the taser was in line with policy and Florida law.

The State Attorney’s Office has declined to comment on the ongoing case.

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