PITTSBURGH — The founder of the Black Lives Matter Pittsburgh branch, Tanisha Long, is calling for the officers who were involved in a taser incident in Bloomfield to be charged in a man’s death.
Jim Rogers died at the hospital the day after police deployed a Taser on him after a stolen bike investigation.
It’s been weeks since Jim Rogers died. He’s the man who was tased by police in Bloomfield, and died at the hospital the next day.
The primary officer who was involved is on paid administrative leave while Allegheny County police investigate the incident.
There is still no word from County Police or Pittsburgh Police on if the officers involved in the incident will be charged.
“I absolutely want the officer who is involved and directly responsible for Jim Rogers’ death to be charged. [And] the officers who did not prevent this from happening to be charged,” Tanisha Long told Channel 11.
Long is the founder of the Pittsburgh and Southwestern PA branch of Black Lives Matter.
She says she has had this discussion one too many times.
“It’s a sense of unending. We will all be fighting this, it will never changed,” she said.
Rogers was homeless. Neighbors told us, he took a ride on a bike that was for sale, and brought it back.
Police showed up, and neighbors started recording. An officer teased Rogers because police say he was non-compliant during the arrest.
“This man doesn’t even have a home, and you’re worried about the fact Atty he rode and returned a bike? And your response was to tase him? Does that make sense?” Long added.
Recently, Mayor Peduto said there needs to be a thorough review of the police department’s taser policies.
But, in Rogers’ case, it’s too late.
“Jim Rogers’ life is just as important as anyone else’s, and I think we need to fight for justice for him in the same way we would for anyone else. I think what happened to him is an absolute tragedy,” Long said.
Channel 11 reached out to Pittsburgh Police and Allegheny County Police to find out where they are in the investigation, but we have yet to receive a response.
A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s office told Channel 11, county detectives are still investigations, and there are no updates from the DA.
This browser does not support the video element.