Michigan Police Brutality: Black Man Assaulted And Tased After His Mother Was Seeking Help for His Mental Health Crisis

The incident involving Christopher Gibson, a 24-year-old Black man, highlights a troubling episode in Warren, Michigan. Three years prior, Gibson's mother alerted police that her son, suffering from schizophrenia, required urgent mental health support, especially following the devastating loss of a cousin to cancer. Concerned by his behavior, bystanders at a gas station also requested assistance.Instead of directing him towards mental health care, the Warren police took Gibson to jail due to outstanding warrants for identity theft. His detainment escalated into violence, with officers deploying pepper spray, tasers, and physical force as he resisted handcuffing amidst his mental health crisis.On August 13, the ACLU of Michigan filed a lawsuit against the city and implicated officers for excessive force and neglecting Gibson’s medical needs, emphasizing the dire necessity for mental health professionals to be integrated into police response strategies. Gibson's mother confirmed that her son now lives with severe trauma and an acute fear of law enforcement. (Photos: ACLU of Michigan)