Man severely injured during arrest, Jackson police investigating use of force
NORTH JACKSON, Tenn. — Jackson police confirm a man was seriously hurt while being apprehended with a Taser by a Jackson police officer during a foot chase. Jackson police say they are investigating to see if the officer followed policy when using a Taser on a suspect. Major Thom Corley says this is standard policy for the department if less-lethal force is used in an arrest. Family members of Sontos Holmes, the injured man, said his injuries look more like a brutal beating. Holmes’ mother, who did not want to be identified, ran to her son’s rescue Tuesday night after she says police went too far when trying to arrest him. “They had to send him off somewhere,so it must be pretty bad,” she said. Holmes is being treated for a serious eye injury suffered in the chase at the Indian Hills neighborhood of North Jackson. Police say it began after the officer realized Holmes was wanted on three warrants. The officer is still on the job. “It is not unusual to see police going by or pulled over up there,” said Julie Norvel, who has lived in the subdivision for more than 25 years. Police say when Holmes was approached by an officer, he ran to a neighbors home and tried to jump a fence. Police say he was shocked with a Taser in the lower body. Holmes’ mother says her son’s head was covered in blood. “I took a cold, wet face cloth and tried to clean some of the blood off, and I realized how bad I was hurting him. He kept saying ‘ow mama, ow, that hurt,’ and I quit,” she said. Police say Holmes had an operation on his eye Wednesday morning. Officers could not say if there is video from the Taser incident. Police say Holmes has a pending charge for evading arrest. Records show his three outstanding warrants were based on failure to complete court-ordered punishment for driving offenses and not paying child support.
