Texas dad of two who died in police custody was unarmed, 'just asked for help', family says in lawsuit

Michael Charles Thompson, a veteran and father of two, died in El Paso police custody two years ago while experiencing a mental health crisis. His family filed a lawsuit on the second anniversary of his death, alleging excessive force by police officers and inadequate medical care from paramedics.

The ordeal began on June 27, 2022, when Michael Thompson, experiencing hallucinations, entered a 7-Eleven in Northeast El Paso and requested the clerk to call 911. According to the family's lawyer, police officers responded by punching, kicking, and repeatedly tasing Thompson, while paramedics observed without intervening. Thompson was eventually handcuffed and placed in a police vehicle, where he died, El Paso Times recalled.

"It takes a strong man to humble himself to say, 'I need help.' That's a strong man. This is what we teach our children from birth. And he did that. And as a result, I stand here with no son at all. Why? Because he just asked for help. You're not supposed to lose your life asking for help," said Barbara Thompson, Michael's mother, to the outlet.

Thompson's mental health crisis began the day he died, when a Texas Tech police officer, working off-duty as Walmart security, allegedly began following him, causing him to experience paranoia. After entering the convenience store and asking for help, Thompson was detained by an El Paso police officer. He then told the officer, "You look like a thug, and you're going to kill me," according to the lawsuit.

The filing claims that after being beaten up, Thompson was wrongfully administered Narcan and placed in the back of a police vehicle, where he stopped breathing. Medical crews arrived but allegedly did not intervene before Thompson was transported to University Medical Center and pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The cause of death was determined to be "restraint asphyxia, use of taser deployment(s), and multiple force blunt force trauma with complications," with two Texas medical examiners ruling it a homicide.

The lawsuit seeks damages for physical pain, mental anguish, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, punitive damages, attorney fees, and other losses faced by Thompson's family. It also alleges negligence by Walmart and Axon Enterprise for improper training and supervision.

Thompson, originally from New York, was a father to two daughters and a U.S. Army veteran. He suffered from PTSD and struggled with homelessness before finding stable housing.

Family members said they hope the lawsuit will bring attention to the treatment of veterans and individuals with mental health issues, advocating for better support and care. "We cannot bring Michael back," Lewis said, "but what we can do is prevent other veterans from facing what Michael faced."