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Man who caught fire after being Tasered sues ex-Chesterfield officer for $95 million

Posted at 5:56 PM, Mar 08, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-09 20:29:01-05

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- A man who suffered severe injuries when his clothes caught fire after he was Tasered by a former Chesterfield County police officer has filed a $95 million lawsuit against the former officer.

Miles November, 27, suffered the injuries after a police pursuit and crash where he was ultimately Tasered by former officer Ryan T. Swope, who is no longer with the department.

November’s legal guardian filed the suit on his behalf, it alleges Swope’s use of the Taser was unlawful and unjustified.

Miles November (Family photo)

Miles November (Family photo)

November was injured during a police chase on February 7, 2015, when he lost control of his car and rolled it several times near Jefferson Davis Highway and Chester Road. November was then struck with a Taser when he fought with the first responders who were trying to rescue him, according to police.

After the injuries sustained during the incident, November was hospitalized from February 2015 to October 2015, according to his attorney John Shea.

Shea told CBS 6 November has undergone 35 surgeries and is still in horrible pain. His current medical bills have reached $6 million, with future bills upward of $15 to $21 million. Shea also added November will never be able to work again.

Authorities believe November's clothing came in contact with spilled gasoline, according to court documents obtained by the Richmond Times Dispatch

"The suit alleges that after November was removed from his car, police 'did not have and could not reasonably or justifiably have had any belief that November, an unarmed crash victim whose wrecked vehicle was upside down and completely inoperable, posed any danger or threat to police officers or others which required the use of a Taser to apply a 50,000 volt electrical shock to November in the vicinity of the gasoline.'"

November was charged with felony assault of a police officer, eluding police, driving with a suspended license and third offense driving while intoxicated in relation to the Feburary 2015 incident.

Chesterfield County Police spokesperson confirmed to CBS 6 Swope is no longer with the department, but they cannot comment further due to pending litigation.

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