The Lafayette Police Department and Taser International Inc. are now being sued by both parents of a man who died last year after an officer shot him with a stun gun.

Wendy Wilson is suing the city and the stun-gun manufacturer for unspecified damages related to the death of her son, Ryan Wilson, 22. The man's father, Jack Wilson, filed a similar suit last week. Jack and Wendy Wilson are divorced.



Ryan Wilson was fatally shot by Officer John Harris in a field north of 2000 W. South Boulder Road as he ran from police, who were investigating a report of marijuana plants growing in the area.

The Boulder County Coroner's Office ruled that Wilson died of an irregular heartbeat caused by a combination of the exertion from running from police, the Taser shock and a heart condition present since birth.

Harris — who also is named in the lawsuit — was cleared of any wrongdoing by prosecutors and his department, where he now holds an administrative position.

Wendy Wilson alleges in her lawsuit that Harris "administered electrical shock ... unnecessarily and without provocation." The suit also claims the department didn't properly train its officers in how to use Tasers.

Wendy Wilson also alleges in the suit that the stun guns pose an "extreme and unreasonable danger" to suspects and says Taser International knew its products are "defective and dangerous" but continued making and selling them anyway.

Taser representatives have said their products are safe and save lives because they're an alternative to deadlier weapons.

Lafayette City Attorney Jim Windholz said he hasn't yet seen the lawsuit and declined to comment.