Man sues over Taser use

A Dorchester County man has filed a lawsuit against Summerville police, alleging that an officer used excessive force in shocking him multiple times with a Taser during a May 2007 traffic stop.

Joseph Hughes III, 40, accused Officer John Moyer of stopping him without cause and blasting him three times with a Taser without provocation in a "malicious and sadistic" manner. Moyer allegedly shocked him even after learning Hughes had heart problems and had recently suffered a stroke, according to the lawsuit filed in the 1st Circuit Court of Common Pleas.

Hughes is suing Moyer and Summerville police, alleging he was assaulted and subjected to unreasonable force and false imprisonment. He seeks unspecified damages for pain, humiliation, mental anguish and other problems.

Attorneys for Moyer and police declined comment on the lawsuit Tuesday. Moyer has denied the allegations, and his report from the incident offers a much different account of the episode.

According to the report, Moyer pulled Hughes over at Woodduck and Canvasback drives for driving a Chevrolet Suburban with no tail lights. Hughes repeatedly refused to hand over his driver paperwork and ignored Moyer's commands to step from the vehicle, the report said.

When Moyer pulled out his Taser and warned the 6-foot-7-inch, 320-pound suspect that he would be shocked, Hughes reportedly replied: "Go ahead and take your little gun and do what you have to do."

Moyer said that Hughes was shocked twice after struggling with him and another officer. Hughes was finally subdued and charged with resisting arrest and traffic violations, the report said.

The disposition of those charges could not be determined Tuesday.