Black Man alleges Moss Point Police Attacked him with Taser, NAACP Investigates
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A Moss Point man said he was the victim of police brutality when a police officer repeatedly used a Taser gun to subdue him. Otis Ashford, 48, said he was hospitalized for two days after the April 18 incident at his sister's home on Westpine Street. At the time police were arresting Ashford on charges of resisting arrest and interfering with the duties of a police officer. Moss Point Interim Police Chief Frederick Gaston confirmed Friday there was an investigation to determine whether the arresting officers acted inappropriately. Curley Clark, president of the Jackson County chapter of the NAACP, said his organization, too, is conducting an independent investigation and has put the city on notice. The NAACP, Clark said, informed the Moss Point Board of Aldermen of its investigation Tuesday night, and asked that the city reestablish its citizen review board to serve a watchdog role over police activity in the city. In the complaint Ashford said he was at his sister's house the night of April 18 when he heard a lot of noise and went outside to check it out. A man later identified as a police officer, Ashford said, yelled for him to go back inside but he stayed outside in a screened-in porch in the front of the house. Ashford and his sister were concerned at the time that a younger brother might have been the one they saw the police officer wrestling with and started yelling for him. The police officer left shortly after with the suspect in tow. Not long after, Ashford said, the police officer returned, bursting in through the front screen door to get to him for allegedly interfering with duties of a police officer. That's when Ashford said he was thrown against a wall and the officer pepper-sprayed him, with some of the spray hitting his sister, before another police officer showed up and repeatedly used a Taser to subdue him. Witnesses said Ashford was unconscious when he was taken from the house to the Moss Point Police Department and from there to Singing River Hospital.
Ashford said he wants something done to the arresting officer to protect others.
"This police officer hurt me, and I just want him off the streets," Ashford said. "He's supposed to be a police officer. He's supposed to be courteous to people, and he wasn't. Every time I think about it, I get angry. I'm not OK."
Ashford was freed from police custody only after a relative posted bond during his hospital stay.
Gaston said he's taking the allegations seriously and trying to establish the sequence of events.
He said it appeared the first police officer on the scene was trying to make an arrest when Ashford interfered.
"Of course, you have one story from the police officer and one from Ashford," Gaston said. "Our job is to make a determination of fact. The appropriate action will be taken."
Meanwhile, Clark said, the NAACP would continue to monitor the case.
"The NAACP is extremely concerned about the use of excessive force," Clark said. "And the NAACP is disturbed over the practices of the Moss Point Police Department where subjects in their custody are not provided medical attention in a timely manner."
Ashford said he wants something done to the arresting officer to protect others.
"This police officer hurt me, and I just want him off the streets," Ashford said. "He's supposed to be a police officer. He's supposed to be courteous to people, and he wasn't. Every time I think about it, I get angry. I'm not OK."
Ashford was freed from police custody only after a relative posted bond during his hospital stay.
Gaston said he's taking the allegations seriously and trying to establish the sequence of events.
He said it appeared the first police officer on the scene was trying to make an arrest when Ashford interfered.
"Of course, you have one story from the police officer and one from Ashford," Gaston said. "Our job is to make a determination of fact. The appropriate action will be taken."
Meanwhile, Clark said, the NAACP would continue to monitor the case.
"The NAACP is extremely concerned about the use of excessive force," Clark said. "And the NAACP is disturbed over the practices of the Moss Point Police Department where subjects in their custody are not provided medical attention in a timely manner."
