Deaf man tased, investigation sparked

MOBILE, Ala. - Antonio Love used sign language to describe what it was like when police forced pepper spray under the restroom door at the Dollar General store on Azalea Road Friday.

"He thought the Devil was breaking into the door. He saw the red smoke. He said, 'What's that smell?' He threw water on the floor."

That's what 37-year-old Love told FOX10 News, with his brother acting as an interpreter.

Love, who is deaf and mentally handicapped, said he wasn't feeling well when he went into the store. The store manager called police after Love had been in the restroom more than an hour.

Love's brother, Roderick Love, said no one knew what happened when his brother was late getting home Friday.

"He didn't come. I was getting worried. Then around about 4:00 p.m. he had came in and he was nervous, and he was shaking, you know. It's like his mind was gone," Antonio's brother explained.

"He said the police kicked the door in, and it hit his head, and then they tased him," he said.

The family believes Love was badly mistreated.

"They went in with force. Drug dealers out here, rapist out here, meth out here, murders, and they in there beating up on a poor handicap person who was just trying to use the bathroom," said Stephanie Turner, Love's aunt.

Love left the Dollar General in the back of police patrol car. He ended up at the Magistrate's office, which was lucky for him. The magistrate made a decision that spared Love a trip to the Metro Jail, right across the street.

The magistrate decided there was no evidence to charge Love with any crime. He was then taken home. The family said officers dropped Love off and sped away without an explanation.

Police have launched an internal investigation into what happened.

Deputy Chief James Barber said the outcome will determine what happens to the officers involved.

"There could be discipline action. There could be procedural changes, if for some reason we find that there's certain procedures that don't exist that should, or we could revisit the entire training issue," Barber said.

Police say the internal investigation could take up to a week.

For more information on the Americans with Disabilities Act, click here.