Tased Off The Toilet

Mobile Police are speaking up about the case of the deaf and mentally disabled man who was tased last Friday.

37-year old Antonio Love reportedly walked to the store alone to buy candy. He lives nearby and explained to his family that he was hungry.

The manager of the Dollar General store on Azalea road called police when Love wouldn't come out of the bathroom for about an hour. Love's mom says her son was having stomach problems and needed some extra time.

Police knocked on the door but say they had no idea who was inside. So, they used pepper spray under the door and preyed it open with a tire iron. Once inside, police found Love holding an umbrella.

Officer Chris Levy with Mobile Police tells us that an umbrella can be used as a weapon. "They didn't know why he was locking himself in the bathroom or what his situation was but had come to the decision that an umbrella possibly could be used as a weapon. So they formulated an idea to make a safe entry and it involved the tasing of the suspect."

Phyllis Love says her son was tased on the chest, stomach and hand. Antonio Love is still shaken but is physically okay after the ordeal. The Love family has filed a formal complaint with the Mobile Police Internal Affairs Department.

Love claims there were about 5 or 6 officers at the bathroom door that day. Mobile Police won't tell us how many actually responded.

We also contacted Dollar General's corporate office in Tennessee to find out about their bathroom policy. They told us they'd call back but never did.