MINNEAPOLIS (KFGO-AM) - A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit can move forward against a Moorhead police officer accused of using excessive force against an elderly man with a taser.
James Van Raden was 75 years old when officers went to his home on a welfare check in 2013.
U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank says in his ruling that Van Raden was "obviously in a mentally fragile state" when he refused to leave his home and was tased by officer Steven Larsen. Frank's 20-page ruling says "a reasonable juror could conclude that Larsen's use of the taser was unreasonable."
Claims against two other Moorhead officers and allegations of false arrest were dismissed.
A settlement conference is scheduled for March 27th.