Paulette Tennison, the mother of John Daniel Scott Jr., filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit in Decatur, Alabama after her son died following a violent arrest and jail detention during a mental health crisis in April 2025. The suit names the City of Decatur, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, and more than a dozen individual officers and corrections employees, and it is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama after surviving two rounds of dismissal for pleading defects.1Leagle. Tennison v. City of Decatur, Alabama, et al., 5:25-cv-1466-HDM2WHNT News 19. Mother of Man Who Died in DPD Custody Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against City of Decatur, Priceville, and Other Officials
What Happened the Night of the Arrest
On April 15, 2025, Tennison called Decatur police because her 39-year-old son was “acting out of character.” An officer spent nearly an hour with Scott at the Brookridge Apartments and left without incident, and a mental health liaison determined Scott did not meet the criteria for involuntary hospitalization.2WHNT News 19. Mother of Man Who Died in DPD Custody Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against City of Decatur, Priceville, and Other Officials3ABC News. Black Man in Alabama Dies One Week After Being Shocked During Arrest
A second call brought officers and Morgan County EMS back around 8:15 p.m. For about 20 minutes, they tried to persuade Scott to board an ambulance voluntarily for a mental health evaluation. Officers also found that Scott had an active failure-to-appear warrant tied to a traffic ticket.4NBC News. Alabama Man Dies Days After He Was Tasered During Arrest5WAFF 48. Family Holds Vigil for Man Who Died After Decatur Police Arrest
When Scott hesitated, officers moved to handcuff him. Body-camera video released by the department shows Scott on the ground screaming “I’m sorry!” as at least four officers engaged with him. The department said officers deployed a Taser several times and used physical force, citing Scott’s “significant physical size and strength.” The video shows officers punching Scott, and he can be heard shouting “I can’t breathe!” during the struggle.6AL.com. Decatur Police Release Video of Arrest, Tasing, and Punching During Mental Health Call4NBC News. Alabama Man Dies Days After He Was Tasered During Arrest
Once handcuffed, Scott could not stand on his own and was pulled upright by multiple officers. A spit hood was placed over his head after an officer reported Scott had spit blood on him. At the Morgan County Jail, surveillance footage shows corrections officers dragging him through the facility while still handcuffed and hooded.3ABC News. Black Man in Alabama Dies One Week After Being Shocked During Arrest7WAFF 48. Mother of Man Who Died in Decatur Police Custody Files Lawsuit
More than an hour after Scott was placed in a cell, jail staff noticed he was in medical distress. He was taken to Decatur Morgan Hospital, then transferred to Huntsville Hospital. He remained in a coma for more than six days and never regained consciousness.4NBC News. Alabama Man Dies Days After He Was Tasered During Arrest8WAFF 48. Family Marks One Year Since Decatur Man Died After Police Arrest
Who Was Sued and What the Complaint Alleges
Tennison filed the 109-page complaint on August 29, 2025, on behalf of Scott’s estate. The case is Tennison v. City of Decatur, Alabama, et al., No. 5:25-cv-1466-HDM, in the Northeastern Division of the Northern District of Alabama. The family is represented by civil rights attorney S. Lee Merritt with co-counsel from the Cochran Firm and Karchmar & Lambert, P.C.1Leagle. Tennison v. City of Decatur, Alabama, et al., 5:25-cv-1466-HDM2WHNT News 19. Mother of Man Who Died in DPD Custody Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against City of Decatur, Priceville, and Other Officials
The original complaint named the City of Decatur, the City of Priceville, and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, along with 17 individual law enforcement and corrections employees. Six are Decatur police officers: Eli Carnes, Jonathan Espino, Landon Wallace, Gregory Rutherford, Bacilio Pedro, and Mike Burleson. Ten are from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, and one, Garry Chapman, is a Priceville officer.9Yahoo News. City of Decatur Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit10Decatur Daily. Mother of Man Who Died a Week After Police Struggle Files Federal Lawsuit
The lawsuit brings 30 counts, including wrongful death, excessive force, assault and battery, and violations of federal civil rights. It alleges officers kicked, punched, Tased, hooded, and “bludgeoned” Scott during the arrest; that he was dragged by his feet across a wet floor at the jail; and that he was left to asphyxiate on his own vomit before staff called for medical help. Merritt said one officer “broke his hand on LJ Scott’s face” from repeated punching, described in official terminology as “distractionary strikes.” The complaint also alleges officers failed to follow the department’s own use-of-force policies and that delayed medical care contributed to Scott’s death.7WAFF 48. Mother of Man Who Died in Decatur Police Custody Files Lawsuit11AL.com. North Alabama City Faces Another Lawsuit Related to Police Conduct
Priceville Dropped From the Case
The original filing alleged that Chapman participated in the use of force and that Priceville police helped seize video of the encounter, and it accused Priceville of a broader pattern of unjustified force. Priceville Mayor San Heflin disputed those claims, saying Chapman was at the jail that night to process a separate Priceville arrestee. On October 30, 2025, Tennison voluntarily dismissed Chapman and the City of Priceville from the lawsuit without prejudice, leaving open the possibility of refiling.10Decatur Daily. Mother of Man Who Died a Week After Police Struggle Files Federal Lawsuit11AL.com. North Alabama City Faces Another Lawsuit Related to Police Conduct12ABC 33/40. Priceville, Son of Dog the Bounty Hunter Dropped From Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Where the Case Stands Now
The lawsuit has run into serious procedural trouble. U.S. District Judge Harold D. Mooty III dismissed the original complaint on February 26, 2026, calling it a “shotgun pleading,” which in federal practice refers to a complaint that lumps allegations together without clearly tying specific facts to specific defendants and claims. The judge dismissed the first amended complaint on the same ground but allowed Tennison to try again.9Yahoo News. City of Decatur Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit
Tennison filed a second amended complaint on May 26, 2026. Judge Mooty warned that no further amendments would be permitted; another dismissal would be with prejudice, barring the claims from being refiled in federal court.13Decatur Daily. City of Decatur Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Over Man’s Death After Police Struggle
On June 9, 2026, attorneys for the City of Decatur and its six named officers moved to dismiss the second amended complaint with prejudice, arguing it was still a shotgun pleading that failed to specify what each officer did. Attorneys for the Morgan County jail employees filed a similar motion and also raised qualified immunity, the doctrine that shields government officials from civil liability unless they violated clearly established rights. The court ordered Tennison to respond by July 1, 2026, with the defendants’ reply due 14 days later.9Yahoo News. City of Decatur Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit13Decatur Daily. City of Decatur Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Over Man’s Death After Police Struggle
Criminal Investigation Still Open
The civil case runs on a separate track from any criminal consequences for the officers. Interim Chief Nadis Carlisle Jr. requested outside investigative help from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the FBI, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office took the lead. The Alabama Department of Forensic Science conducted the autopsy, and the department opened an internal investigation.14WAFF 48. Madison County Sheriff’s Office Leading Investigation Into John Scott Jr.’s Death; ALEA, FBI Assisting15WHNT News 19. DPD Speaks on Video of Tuesday Arrest Circulating on Social Media
By late October 2025, Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson confirmed his office had received the investigative findings. As of early 2026, no officers had been charged, disciplined, or fired, and the DA had not announced any charging decision. The FBI said it is “aware of the death” and will investigate further if evidence of a federal law violation emerges.16WAFF 48. Findings in Decatur Man’s Death Investigation Turned Over to Morgan County DA17WAFF 48. Nine Months Later, Scott Family Still Seeking Answers in Death Following Decatur Police Arrest3ABC News. Black Man in Alabama Dies One Week After Being Shocked During Arrest
Other Force Lawsuits Against Decatur Police
Scott’s case is one of three federal lawsuits filed against the Decatur Police Department within roughly two years alleging excessive force or wrongful death.
In September 2023, Decatur officer Mac Bailey Marquette shot and killed Steve Perkins during an encounter related to a vehicle repossession. The department’s internal investigation found policy violations, a grand jury indicted Marquette on a murder charge, and his Stand Your Ground immunity request was denied by a circuit judge and upheld on appeal. The Perkins family, also represented by Merritt, filed a federal wrongful death suit alleging a departmental custom of encouraging force over de-escalation. After the shooting, the Decatur mayor fired three officers and suspended another, and the city council hired an outside firm to review departmental procedures.181819 News. Trial Rescheduled for Former Decatur Police Officer in Stephen Perkins Shooting Death19Alabama Reflector. One Year After Decatur Man’s Death at Hands of Police, Activism and Legal Battles Continue
In August 2025, the family of 16-year-old Jaiden DeJarnett filed a wrongful death lawsuit after the teen was killed in a 40-minute high-speed police chase in September 2023 that began over a headlight violation. That suit also names the City of Decatur and Marquette, alleging the pursuit violated departmental policy.20WHNT News 19. Family of Teen Killed in 2023 Police Chase Crash Suing City of Decatur, Mayor, and Former Police Officer
Merritt summarized the Scott family’s position in a statement when the lawsuit was filed: “This case is about a citizen who needed care but was instead criminalized, brutalized, neglected, and ultimately left for dead.”2WHNT News 19. Mother of Man Who Died in DPD Custody Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against City of Decatur, Priceville, and Other Officials