Woman Says Son Tazed After Staying In Bathroom Too Long

A Mobile woman says her son, who is mentally handicapped and hearing impaired, was pepper sprayed and tazed by Mobile Police after he didn't come out of a store bathroom quickly enough. Phyllis Love said her 37 year old son Antonio went to the Dollar General Store on Azalea Road Friday morning, had stomach problems and went to the bathroom, and that the manager called police. Love said, "The reason police had been called out was because the manager said he was in the bathroom too long." Antonio's brother, Brodrick Love, interprets what Antonio said happened after police arrived. First, pepper spray came under the door. Brodrick Love said, "He saw the red smoke coming through there and then he threw water and said, 'What's that?' Then, he started throwing water on the floor and the smoke came into his nose and he thought the devil was coming into him." Phylllis Love said Antonio "was trying to hold the door for them not to come. Mind you, he thought it was the devil because he has a mental problem. When the police came out, that's what they did: they kicked the door in, and, when they did, my son says they tazed him in the chest, in the stomach, and on his hand." Antonio's mother says her son carries a card in his wallet that says he's hearing impaired. Family members said they have filed a complaint with the Mobile Police Department. Stephanie Turner, Antonio's aunt, said, "I called, trying to find a supervisor, so we can figure out what happened, why he was taken downtown without any family members being called, any legal representation, anybody being called, no interpreter." Phyllis Love said, "I want justice done." The Dollar General Store referred News Five to officials at the corporate office, but there's no word from them as of yet. A spokesman for the Mobile Police Department said they were aware of the complaint, but there's been no comment.