The family of Israel Hernandez, the teen who died after being shot with a Taser by an officer, will announce that they're suing the Miami Beach Police Department Tuesday, their attorneys said.
Attorneys and family members are holding a 2:30 p.m. news conference at the Miami-Dade County Courthouse to discuss the details of the lawsuit.
911 Calls Released as Teen Shot With Taser is Laid to Rest
Miami Beach Police said officers found Hernandez, 18, graffiti tagging a building at 71st Street and Collins Avenue the morning of Aug. 6. Hernandez took off on foot once the officer approached him, police said.
Once the officers caught up to him at 71st Street and Harding Avenue, one of them used a Taser on the teen to help take him into custody, police said. While in custody, Hernandez went into medical duress and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he later died, police said.
Israel Hernandez's Family Grieves at Wake
The incident and Hernandez's cause of death is still under investigation and the officer who used the Taser on the teen, Jorge Mercado, has been placed on administrative leave, police said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has said it will review the police investigation into the teen's death.
Cop in Fatal Tasering Has Other Incidents in File
Miami Fraternal Order of Police President Sgt. Javier Ortiz said earlier this month that the FOP is standing by Officer Mercado in his actions.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Rafael Lynch