GLOBE, AZ — An Arizona woman is suing the Globe Police Department after officers used a Taser on her in her own bedroom, even though she committed no crime and posed no threat.
ABC15 Investigators exposed the police misconduct against Memory Burns earlier this year. Burns, 36, is considered to be seriously mentally ill by the State of Arizona.
A year ago, in September 2020, a neighbor reported hearing yelling coming from Burns's apartment in Globe, which is about 90 miles east of Phoenix.
Burns was quiet when officers arrived, but she would not come to the door.
Officers decided to enter her apartment without a warrant, cornered her in her bedroom, stunned her with a Taser weapon, and arrested her. She was unarmed and committed no crime that night.
Last week, Burns's dad filed a civil rights lawsuit on his daughter's behalf, alleging police used excessive force, and for illegal search and seizure.
"If a neighbor's noise complaint is sufficient to allow police to enter a private home, then there is no Fourth Amendment anymore, they can enter any home at any time," said Jesse Showalter, an attorney for Burns's family.
Globe's police chief previously said his officers missed the mark and said the use of a Taser was "out of policy." He suspended the police sergeant involved and gave the other officers additional training.
An attorney that represents the City of Globe told ABC15 on Tuesday that the city has yet to be served in the case and that the city limits its comments on pending litigation to documents filed with the court.
Got a news tip? Email ABC15 Investigator Melissa Blasius at Melissa.Blasius@abc15.com and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
