Family Sues Appomattox Co. After Alleged Taser Death

This story was updated at 6:00 p.m. on October 31, 2011 to reflect a reporting error. The original story reported on a lawsuit filed against the Appomattox County Sheriff's Department. It was filed by the family of Daniel Russell who died after he was shot with a taser. We reported that the victim's mother was among those who filed the lawsuit. That part of the story was not correct. Daniel Russell's mother is not involved in the lawsuit. We also incorrectly reported we had reached her by phone for comment. We regret the errors in our coverage of this story.

Appomattox, VA - Appomattox County is now in the middle of a multimillion dollar lawsuit with the family of a man who died after he was shot with a taser.

The deputy who used the taser, the county and the manufacturer of the gun are listed as defendants in the suit.

But Captain Todd Craft with the sheriff's office is standing behind the deputy, saying he followed the department's protocol.

"Based on the facts and circumstances of the case, the deputies actions were entirely appropriate and well within policy," he said in a brief statement.

The suit claims on October 30 of last year, Daniel Russell was shot in the chest by Appomattox County deputy Denney Wright after a domestic-related call on Red House Road.

It says Russell went into cardiac arrest, slipped into a coma and died eight months later.

It accuses the county of gross negligence and accuses the deputy of shooting Russell even though he was acting in a non-threatening manner.

We're told the sheriff's office has not changed its taser policy since the incident and the deputy involved in the shooting is still employed by the department.