KANSAS CITY, Missouri - January 28, 2010 - A man taking an early morning walk says he lost an eye because a Kansas City cop shot him in the eye with a Taser for no reason. Keith Hudson claims he had already answered all the questions officer Kyle Yrigollen had asked him, and had committed no crime, nor was even suspected of committing one.

Hudson sued Yrigollen and the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners in Federal Court.

He claims Yrigollen stopped and questioned him at about 2:11 am on September 15, 2008. At the time, Yrigollen was walking alone. Hudson claims that after he spoke with the officer, he walked away from him and that without provocation or cause, Officer Yrigollen began to chase and threaten him.

Hudson, facing away from Officer Yrigollen, immediately stopped, dropped to his knees, and placed his hands in the air. He turned his head to look towards the officer and was immediately struck in the left eye by a Taser that was fired by Officer Yrigollen.

These actions caused serious personal injuries to Hudson’s left eye, which was later surgically removed.

Hudson was never charged with and/or convicted of any crimes related to this incident. At all times during the incident, Hudson was unarmed and posed no threat to Officer Yrigollen or others.

Officer Yrigollen's use of force was unreasonable in light of the facts and circumstances.

Hudson seeks punitive damages for excessive force, assault and battery, failure to supervise, and emotional distress. He is represented by Brett Williams with Peterson & Associates.

Please call and voice your feelings concerning this egregious abuse of power and example of savage brutality by a man being paid with public funds. Demand the firing of this piece of garbage that shot a Taser bolt into a man’s eye! Demand accountability!

Kansas City Police Department
Police Chief Jim Corwin
816-234-5000