Alonzo Ashley

Alonzo Ashley died after Denver police officers repeatedly restrained and used a Taser on him following an encounter with zoo security in July 2011.

What happened

On July 18, 2011, Alonzo Ashley and his girlfriend visited the Denver Zoo. After he sought to cool off near a water fountain, security personnel confronted him and an altercation developed. Police were summoned. Officer Justin Jones approached with a Taser; several officers eventually struggled with and restrained Ashley as he showed signs of extreme physical distress. He collapsed and died. Ashley's estate brought a civil-rights lawsuit alleging the force and prolonged physical restraint were unreasonable. Federal appeals litigation examined how officers assessed the risk to a person struggling to breathe and the differing accounts of force used during the restraint.

Investigation & findings

The Tenth Circuit reviewed a qualified-immunity appeal in the estate's civil-rights litigation, reversing in part and dismissing in part. This procedural decision does not itself resolve every factual allegation or establish an officer's criminal guilt.

What happened

Investigation & findings

Sources & records