Man severely burned sues Osceola County deputies over Taser incident

Jean Louis Barreto-Baerga has filed a federal lawsuit against the Osceola County Sheriff's Office following a 2022 incident where he was severely burned after deputies used a Taser while he was soaked in gasoline at a gas station. The lawsuit alleges excessive force during an unnecessary pursuit, noting that deputies knew Barreto-Baerga was not the suspect they were after. During the chase, which stemmed from a report of reckless motorcycle riding, deputies tackled him at a Wawa station and deployed the Taser, igniting the gasoline and causing burns over 75% of his body. Barreto-Baerga's legal team claims the actions of the deputies were reckless and have left him permanently disfigured and in constant physical pain. The deputy involved, David Crawford, was previously acquitted of negligence in a related trial. The lawsuit seeks compensation for the injuries and emotional distress caused by the incident.