A North Carolina man is suing the Town of Spruce Pine and its police officers after he claims he was beaten, tased, and arrested by police while experiencing a medical emergency in a Walmart parking lot.
Dillon Ledford, who has diabetes, says the officers ignored his condition and violated his rights. He’s now seeking justice for the treatment he received on February 16, 2024.
The Incident and Lawsuit Details
On the evening of February 16, 2024, Dillon Ledford, who is in his 30s, was driving home when his blood sugar dropped due to his diabetes. He stopped at the Walmart in Spruce Pine to get something to eat and sat in his car, feeling worse.
Employees who noticed him “twitching” and with “buggy eyes” attempted to talk to him, but Ledford could not respond. They then called 911 for a welfare check.
Police officers arrived shortly after, but instead of offering medical assistance, they allegedly chose to arrest Ledford. The lawsuit claims that Ledford was nonverbal and in medical distress but that the officers failed to call for medical help. Instead, the officers allegedly used excessive force to arrest him.
Allegations of Excessive Force
According to the lawsuit, the officers—Michael Sale, Dalton Mace, and Michael Hollifield—pushed Ledford to the ground during his arrest, even though there was no threat to their safety.
Ledford says he was struck multiple times by Sale and tased by Hollifield while on the ground, unable to comply with the officers’ demands. The lawsuit accuses the officers of using excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
The incident was reportedly captured on Walmart’s surveillance cameras. Despite the fact that no illegal items were found in Ledford’s car, he was not taken to the hospital but instead taken to the police station.
Charges and Impact on Ledford
Ledford was initially charged with second-degree trespassing and resisting arrest, charges which he claims led to him losing his job and suffering reputational damage.
Ledford, a former K-9 officer with the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, says the charges affected his career and led to an internal investigation.
Although the charges were eventually dropped, Ledford is now seeking a jury trial and damages for the physical, emotional, and mental harm he suffered.
Allegations Against Police Supervisors
In addition to suing the officers directly involved, Ledford is also suing the police chief, Kasey Cook, and other town officials. He claims that the officers’ supervisors did not properly investigate or discipline them after the incident.
According to Ledford’s lawsuit, the lack of proper training, supervision, and policies led to the violation of his rights.
Lack of Investigation by Local Authorities
Mitchell County District Attorney Seth Banks reportedly found the officers’ failure to provide medical assistance concerning but did not have enough evidence to charge anyone in the case.
The Town of Spruce Pine has yet to respond to the lawsuit, but the town attorney stated they would review the claim once it is formally served.
Dillon Ledford’s lawsuit against the Town of Spruce Pine and its police officers highlights concerns about police misconduct and the failure to offer medical assistance in a crisis.
Ledford is seeking justice for the harm caused to him and calling for better training and supervision of law enforcement officers to prevent such incidents in the future.
