ANCHORAGE – The family of a man killed by an Anchorage police officer last summer has filed a complaint and demand for jury trial against the Anchorage Police Department and the Municipality of Anchorage.
On June 9, 2012, Tasi was “shot, seized, wounded and killed” outside his Mountain View apartment by the defendant, Officer Boaz Gionson. The complaint claims Tasi died “as a result of being unconstitutionally shot and seized, and shot repeatedly intentionally and unnecessarily, recklessly, willfully and negligently …”
Gionson arrived at Tasi’s apartment in response to a disturbance call. In police surveillance video, Tasi can be seen waving a broken broom handle at Gionson. Tasi was shot while wielding the stick, and medical reports showed he was intoxicated at the time.
Gionson was later cleared of criminal wrongdoing and Tasi was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The family members who are plaintiffs include Tasi’s wife, Jean Taualo-Tasi, and Tasi’s children. In addition to Gionson, APD and the municipality, other defendants include Officer Joshua Vance and Officer James Williams.
The complaint was submitted Nov. 19.