Michael Frederick Mears

Less-than-lethal force

Michael Mears' roommate called paramedics on Christmas Eve 2014 and reported that the military veteran was having a "paranoid episode" and complaining that someone was coming to get him. An LAPD sergeant and five officers responded to Mears' South Los Angeles apartment and tried to physically restrain him before using pepper spray and batons. During the confrontation, one of the officers, Jonathan Gan, shocked Mears with a Taser six times over the course of three minutes. Mears died two days later. Los Angeles City Council approved a $5.75 million settlement.