Family files claim against Bpt police

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- A Bridgeport family has filed a claim with Bridgeport Police claiming police brutality but the families account of things is very different from the police report.

"I felt like I was dying," said Horace Jennings.

Horace Jennings says Bridgeport police shot him with a tazer last week and he has the scars on his back to prove it.

"Before I got hit, I heard them say, 'take that n-word down,'" said Horace Jennings.

He says it all began outside his home on Pleasant Street. Three of his four sons were sitting in their cars. They say police harrassed them, ordering them out of the vehicles and behind the gate outside their house. Two of the brothers eventually went inside, their parents heard the commotion and went outside.

"When I looked out the side window, that's when they was tazing my father," said Eric Jennings.

Margaret Jennings says one of the officers allowed her to help her husband.

"And the next thing you know, I was in handcuffs going across the street," said Margaret Jennings. "I seen it happen before and I never thought it would happen to me but it did."

The arrests happened the same week video surfaced showing 3 Bridgeport officers kicking a handcuffed suspect. Those officers are now on administrative duties and the alleged victim has filed suit against the city.

This most recent indicent of alleged police brutality was also captured on a cell phone. The family has also filed a complaint with the city but the police report tells a different story.

They say Margaret Jennings was arrested for not listening when medics arrived to help her husband. Police say her husband was tazed after he attempted to grab an officer's stun gun. Officers say the sons were approached for blocking free passage of a sidewalk.

"Why do you think this happened," asked News 8's Nneka Nwosu.

"Profiling," said Eric Jennings. "They profiled us and they thought they was gonna get a quick bust that they didn't get."

"I mean to put a whole family and get them locked up and they didn't do nothing? How do you feel," said Horace Jennings.