A University of Arizona student is suing the Oro Valley Police Department on claims of reckless assault and detention as he headed to a football game last fall.
John Wisner's suit, filed Aug. 11 in Pima County Superior Court, states that he was detained and shot with a Taser by Oro Valley police Officer Bryan Wiggins, which caused him "to fall face-first onto a concrete sidewalk."
Oro Valley Police Department officials declined to comment on the suit. Wisner's attorney, James Marner, did not return calls seeking comment.
At the time of the Oct. 25 incident, Wiggins was off-duty from his Oro Valley job and working in uniform for the university.
The suit, which seeks an unspecified amount, also states that Wisner has suffered serious, permanent physical injuries as well as mental anguish.
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Wiggins and other officers were "ill-trained and physically/psychologically unfit for the type of duty called for under the circumstances," the suit also states.
The suit follows a claim that Wisner's lawyers filed against the town of Oro Valley in April, when they unsuccessfully sought more than $400,000 in a settlement.
The claim states that Wisner was walking to a football game when other fans began taunting a friend who wore a shirt with the name of the visiting team, the University of Southern California.
According to the claim, an altercation broke out after the USC fan got hit with a bottle. As Wisner tried to leave, someone restrained him from behind, the claim states.
Thinking it was a fan who had a hold on him, the claim says, Wisner tried to get away. At that point, Officer Wiggins, who had grabbed Wisner, shot him with his Taser.
After Wisner fell to the sidewalk, the claim states, he was left to bleed for 10 minutes. He suffered a broken nose, and several teeth were knocked loose, the claim states.
A UA police report depicts Wisner's role differently.
"I observed him throw a punch at an individual," Wiggins wrote. "The first fight was between Mr. Wisner and a USC fan; the second was between Mr. Wisner and a U of A fan."
Wisner fled after the officer grabbed his shirt and kept running after being ordered to stop, Wiggins said.
Wisner fell after the officer shot him with his Taser, and Wiggins said he handcuffed him and called for medical assistance. Wisner told the officer that he'd had "too much" to drink, according to the report.
The town of Oro Valley, the University of Arizona and the Arizona Board of Regents also are named defendants in the suit.
