DEONTAE FAISON
Man Critically Injured After Police Confrontation Over Expired Car Tags
A 35-year-old Black man, Deontae Faison, is in critical condition and reliant on a feeding tube after a confrontation with police escalated during a routine visit to Wendy’s. Faison and a white female friend had gone to the fast-food restaurant when a police officer allegedly noticed that the car they were driving had expired tags.
After purchasing their food, Faison and his friend drove to a nearby park to eat. The officer followed and confronted them at the park. Despite the woman owning the vehicle and reportedly providing a false identity to authorities, only Faison was questioned by the officer.
Faison, reportedly fearful for his safety, ran toward a nearby estuary. The officer pursued and deployed a stun gun without apparent attempts to communicate with Faison. As Faison reached the estuary, the officer tased him again, with the stun gun’s wires remaining attached to his back. The second tasing caused Faison to fall into the water, where he floated across to the opposite shore.
Police eventually dragged him out of the water after approximately 40 minutes. Despite paramedics arriving on the scene, they were reportedly not informed that Faison had been tased. Faison is now unable to move his eyes or limbs, requiring extensive medical care.
The incident has sparked community outrage and raised questions about police tactics, potential racial profiling, and the use of force. Advocacy groups have called for a thorough investigation into the events leading to Faison’s injuries. Neither the police department nor local officials have issued a public statement addressing the incident.
