By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
A federal appeals court has sided with a lower court that Glasgow police officers did not use excessive force when arresting Jeremy Marr in 2020.
Citing qualified immunity, and the fact that Marr was “actively resisting arrest” at the time, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the judgement reached by a federal judge in the Western District of Kentucky Court, wherein Judge Greg Stivers dismissed all the claims made against the police officers with prejudice, meaning the same claim cannot be brought against them in the future.
“The death of Jeremy Marr, who leaves behind a devoted wife and daughter, is an immense tragedy,” the appellate court opinion stated. “But Plaintiffs have failed to show that Defendants should be held liable for his death under either federal or state law.”
Guy Turcotte, Hayden Phillips and Cameron Murrell arrested Marr on April 14, 2020 prompted by his reported break-in and his “erratic, likely drug-induced, behavior,” according to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. While attempting to handcuff and subdue Marr, the officers wrestled Marr to the ground and tased him eight to 11 times and delivered “multiple knee strikes” when he “thrashed about” after the handcuff was placed on his left wrist, according to the appellate court’s opinion.
Marr was pronounced deceased on arrival at the hospital. Kentucky’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner stated the cause of death was “agitated/excited delirium complicating acute methamphetamine intoxication during process of law enforcement subdual/arrest,” the opinion stated.
The city of Glasgow and the Glasgow Police Department were also defendants in this case.
The full opinion can be read here.
