A former Arkansas police officer seeking damages as part of a federal lawsuit says he continues to suffer significant pain after a gun unexpectedly went off and injured him at a shooting range three years ago.
A jury trial has been scheduled for the week of Aug. 21, 2017, in Helena-West Helena before Chief U.S. Judge Brian Miller, according to a court docket.
The lawsuit, which was transferred from Cross County Circuit Court to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, states that Larry Jones suffered gunshot wounds June 21, 2013, when a Glock pistol fired as he was attempting to place a tactical light on the gun.
Jones said he was using the weapon in a "reasonable and foreseeable manner" when it discharged and fired a round that traveled through his left foot.
At that time, Jones worked as a police officer in Cherry Valley, which is about 32 miles south of Jonesboro, according to the complaint.
He resigned from his position with the Cherry Valley Police Department the same day, a city spokesman said.
Jones' lawsuit accuses the gun manufacturer Glock Inc. of failing to provide appropriate safety measures, such as a manual safety device, for the pistol.
That "dangerous and defective condition" was "not an obvious danger that should have been discovered" by Jones, the document states.
State Desk on 08/31/2016