Family of man who died after Penn police used a Taser on him files wrongful death suit
Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump is part of the legal team representing the family of Ronald Harmon, who struck his head on a curb after an officer used a stun gun on his back, the suit says.
The brother of a man who died two months after a University of Pennsylvania police officer used a stun gun on him during a chase has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the West Philadelphia Ivy League school.
Ronald Harmon died Jan. 9, 2025, from complications of a head injury, the suit says, roughly two months after police “wrongfully” used a Taser on him. Harmon, 52, fell to the ground and suffered a blunt injury to his head, according to the complaint.
The medical examiner ruled Harmon died by homicide, the lawsuit says. The cause of death was “complications of blunt impact injury to the head.”
Penn Police Officer James Squadroni deployed the Taser against department policies and Officer James Schwartz failed to prevent his partner from using “excessive force,” the complaint says. The officers’ conduct violated Harmon’s constitutional rights, the suit says.
“I’m just hoping that we can get justice,” Harmon’s brother, Bruce Harmon, said in a press event announcing the lawsuit Monday.
Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump is part of the legal team that filed the lawsuit on Monday in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Crump has represented the families of high-profile victims of police use of force such as George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, and Breonna Taylor.
Crump is not currently listed as an attorney for Harmon on the federal court’s docket. The local attorney who filed the complaint, Gregg Zeff, said Crump would be added to the case formally in the future. He did not comment further about the litigation.
A Penn spokesperson said in a statement that the university extends its deepest condolences to Harmon’s family.
“The University and the Division of Public Safety take any use of force and loss of life with the utmost seriousness,” the statement said. “Because this matter is now the subject of active federal litigation, the University cannot discuss the specific factual allegations or legal claims outside of the judicial process.”
Officers Squadroni and Schwartz saw Harmon taking a package from a building in West Philly on the night of Nov. 5, 2024, the suit says. Squadroni chased Harmon on foot while Schwartz followed in the police cruiser.
Harmon threw the package as police chased him, the suit says. When he noticed the police vehicle ahead of him, he turned around, and ran past Squadroni, according to the complaint. The officer deployed his Taser, the suit says, striking Harmon in the back.
Harmon fell and hit his head on the curb, the lawsuit says.
Squadroni violated department policies when he deployed his Taser against an unarmed suspect wanted for a nonviolent misdemeanor, the suit says.
“As a direct result of being unlawfully struck with a taser, Harmon died,” the complaint says.
