CSPD is facing a $100 million lawsuit over an incident that left a man paralyzed

Courtesy: Harry M. Daniels

(COLORADO SPRINGS) – May 16, 2022 was the day Jacob Root was left paralyzed from the neck down after an altercation with Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) Officer Robert Comstock. CSPD is now facing a $100 million lawsuit.

According to a press release from the law firm representing Root, the incident began with a report of a stolen car that was investigated by the BATTLE (Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement) Task Force, which included resources from CSPD, the Sheriff’s Office of El Paso, belonged. and the Colorado State Patrol. While attempting to recover the stolen vehicle, the task force approached Root at a Kum & Go gas station on Airport Road and pursued him on foot.

The law firm said Officer Comstock then tasered Root “without warning,” causing Root to fall face-first down a slope. After being verbally abused, Root was unable to use his arms to break the fall, resulting in the fall breaking his neck and leaving him paralyzed.

Warning: Some images of police body worn camera footage in the gallery below may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is required.

“I used to work in law enforcement myself. “If you get shot with a Taser, it immobilizes you immediately,” said civil rights attorney Harry Daniels, who represented Root in the case. “Whatever position you imagine, if you jump into the air, you freeze, you can’t break your fall, you can’t extend your arm, you can’t support yourself. No matter what position you are in, you will fall. . . so Mr. Root fell.”

According to the law firm, CSPD standard operating procedures for the use of Conducted Electric Weapons (CEW) strictly prohibit officers from groping someone “in an elevated position or in a location where a fall could result in significant injury or death.”

“Officer Comstock chose to ignore the rules,” Daniels said. “He chose to ignore safety precautions. He chose to act recklessly and dangerously, and because of that, Jacob Root is a paraplegic.”

“He can’t . . . He can’t even brush his teeth, can’t wash his face, you know, in a day he does his best,” Daniels continued. “He’s 31 years old. He’s 31, he’s at the peak of his prime. That was taken away from him.”

FOX21 has reached out to CSPD for comment.

“CSPD learned of this lawsuit without prior notice this afternoon through the press release sent out to the media,” said Ira Cronin, public relations manager for CSPD. “We are in the early stages of reviewing the facts of this case from two years ago and reserve the right to comment this evening.”

CSPD said Officer Comstock is still employed by CSPD and is in good standing with the department.

FOX21 News will provide updates on this case as information becomes available.