'We have not forgotten about this:' local excessive force case pending in US Supreme Court
SAN ANTONIO - The death of George Floyd brings up raw pain and emotion for families who say they lost their loved ones to excessive police force.
The family of Norman Cooper is still begging for change after their 33-year-old son was tased multiple times by police in 2015.
"I get hurt every time I see a person of color who is killed, hurt, snatched out of a car slammed down on the ground," said Jennifer Cooper, Norman's mother.
Jennifer said she's not angry anymore about what happened, but she is still hurt.
"This child was begging for his life and they still tased him," Jennifer said.
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Jennifer explained that the night her son died, officers were called out to the family home for a disturbance.
Her youngest son was frightened when Norman came home in a frenzied state.
"He scared our younger son," Jennifer said. "He didn't touch him. He didn't touch the police. He had my husband's computer, I'm sure to block the tases."
According to court records, Officer Oliver Flaig and Officer Arnoldo Sanchez with the San Antonio Police Department tased Noman nine times.
"His last words were thank you, Jesus," said Nobel Cooper Jr., Norman's father.
According to the Cooper's family attorneys, the officers were only given a written reprimand for their actions.
The family filed a civil rights case, claiming Norman's constitutional rights were violated the night he died.
Now, the suit is pending in the United States Supreme Court.
Talking about it still brings tears to Norman's father's eyes.
"Instead of deescalating, they escalated stuff," He said.
In a video conference call Wednesday, Police Chief William McManus highlighted that there needed to be consequences for misconduct.
"They have to be final consequences for misconduct," McManus said. "They must be certain and they must be final."
The family said they want to see more accountability, more compassion and fewer cases like Norman's.
"We have not forgotten about this," Jennifer said. "I've never thought that justice won't come. If we don't get it in the courts. God will render justice."
