In April 2023, a routine visit to a park turned into a life-threatening ordeal for Deontae Faison, a Black father of two, who now lies in a coma after being repeatedly tasered by police while standing in water. For nearly six months, his family has watched him fight for his life, and this week they filed a federal civil rights lawsuit accusing law enforcement of reckless behavior and gross negligence. What started as a minor incident over expired vehicle tags spiraled into tragedy, highlighting ongoing concerns about police use of force, especially toward people of color.

The incident took place at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline park in Oakland, California, when Faison, 35, and a friend visited the park on a pleasant April day. According to the lawsuit, the officers first approached Faison regarding expired tags on his vehicle. The situation escalated when Faison, feeling targeted and mistreated, gave the officer a false name. After his name didn’t appear in the database, tensions rose, and police officers drew their weapons. Fearful, Faison fled, ultimately making his way into the water, where officers continued to pursue him.

Video footage and body camera evidence reveal that the officers tased Faison multiple times—first on the shore and then after he had entered the water. The lawsuit argues that the officers violated established protocols by using a taser in such circumstances, where Faison’s position in the water presented a clear risk of injury or worse. The East Bay Regional Park District’s 2024 policy manual explicitly warns officers against deploying tasers on individuals in water, stating that such an action could lead to severe harm, including drowning or electrocution.

The most damning part of the lawsuit, however, is not just the fact that Faison was tasered while wet and in water—actions considered dangerous according to law enforcement policies—but that multiple officers allegedly stood by and watched him struggle for nearly 40 minutes before taking any action to assist him. According to the lawsuit, Faison flailed and called for help before eventually falling unconscious. Despite his visible distress, it wasn’t until Faison drowned and drifted about 10 to 15 feet from shore that officers finally attempted to pull him from the water.

“The level of disregard and callousness the officers showed as they comfortably stood by and watched Deontae call out for help while flailing his arms in a desperate bid to avoid drowning is unforgivable,” said Jamir Davis, a civil rights attorney representing Faison’s family. In a news release on October 22, Davis condemned the officers for not intervening sooner, stating that the officers’ failure to act constitutes a gross violation of Faison’s civil rights and a failure of basic human decency.

The officers reportedly did not call for medical assistance until after Faison was pulled from the water, and none of them attempted to perform CPR on him while he was unresponsive. Paramedics arrived approximately 15 minutes later, by which time Faison had already been unconscious for a prolonged period, contributing to his current vegetative state. The water, which was around 50 degrees at the time, compounded the severity of his condition, as prolonged exposure to the cold likely accelerated his physical decline.

What makes the incident even more troubling, the family argues, is the context in which it unfolded. Faison, who was visiting the park with a white friend, reportedly felt singled out by the officers. The lawsuit suggests that the officers treated Faison more harshly than his friend, which heightened his anxiety and may have contributed to his decision to flee. The situation escalated when Faison, already anxious and upset, saw more officers arriving, one of whom drew his gun. Faison’s attempt to escape ultimately led him into the water, but instead of de-escalating the situation, the officers pursued him with a taser, despite the obvious risks.

Attorney Adanté Pointer, also representing Faison’s family, expressed outrage at the officers’ disregard for their own policies. “The repeated use of a Taser, particularly in water, was not only excessive but reckless—violating the very standards set by not only the Taser manufacturer but the district’s policies to protect lives,” Pointer said.

The lawsuit underscores the broader issue of police brutality and the frequent use of excessive force against Black men in America. Faison’s case is particularly alarming because it demonstrates not only the dangers of taser misuse but also the failure of law enforcement to provide timely medical assistance. As his family waits for a possible legal resolution, they are also enduring the emotional toll of watching their loved one remain in a coma with an uncertain future.

The East Bay Regional Park District has stated that officers attempted to contact the U.S. Coast Guard for water rescue support, but resources were reportedly unavailable. However, the family’s lawsuit contends that officers should have taken immediate action to prevent Faison from drowning. Instead, they deployed a flotation device only after Faison had been in the water for 30 to 40 minutes and was already struggling to stay afloat.

During a press conference on October 24, one of Faison’s two sons expressed the family’s heartache. “I can’t talk to him,” the boy said. “I could talk to my dad about anything.” The family’s anguish is palpable as they continue to fight for justice, hoping that the lawsuit will bring accountability to those responsible and prevent such incidents from happening to others.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages but focuses on holding law enforcement accountable for their actions—or, in this case, inaction. If the allegations are proven, it could result in significant legal consequences for the officers involved, including potential criminal charges.

As the case unfolds, it serves as yet another painful reminder of the deep racial disparities in how law enforcement engages with people of color, particularly Black men. Deontae Faison’s family, like so many others, is left to navigate a legal system that too often protects officers at the expense of the vulnerable individuals they are supposed to serve.