Montana Family Sues Contending Stun Gun Use Caused Death

The family of a 77-year-old Korean War veteran with Alzheimer’s disease who the family says died from injuries sustained when shocked by a police stun gun after wondering away from the Montana Veterans Home has filed a lawsuit.

The Independent Record reports the lawsuit filed April 5 in Helena District Court names the veterans home, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, and the Columbia Falls Police Department.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including punitive damages against the police department.

The family says Stanley L. “Stan” Downen was hit with the stun gun on June 1, 2012, and died three weeks later from injuries resulting from the fall.

The entities being sued declined to comment.