Black Man Asks 'Who’s Josh?' Before Fatal Tasing by Colorado Police: City Now Has To Pay $3.2M Settlement To His Family

In a tragic incident from 2018, two officers from Colorado Springs utilized their tasers eight times within a span of 90 seconds while arresting Jeffrey Melvin, a Black man uninvolved in the disturbance they were called to address. Melvin, 27, pleaded, “You’re killing me. I can’t breathe,” during the ordeal, leading to his death shortly thereafter.On Tuesday, the city reached a $3.2 million settlement with Melvin’s family. Notably, the officers involved were shielded from legal repercussions, granted qualified immunity by an appellate court in 2023, due to a lack of "clearly established" limitations on taser use.In response, Chief Adrian Vasquez criticized the family’s law firm for allegedly disseminating misleading information regarding the settlement. He asserted that officers acted within their training, aiming for a peaceful resolution. Despite the court's ruling, attorney David Killer emphasized the need for improved police training to prevent further tragedies. (Photo: KKTV and body camera)