Chandler v. Tuscaloosa County, Alabama et al.

On January 8, 2026, Marcus Chandler, a 31-year-old Black motorist, was stopped by Tuscaloosa County sheriff’s deputies for an alleged traffic violation. Deputies Jason Miller and Sarah Collins claimed Chandler was noncompliant, escalating the encounter into a physical confrontation. The deputies deployed conducted electrical weapons multiple times and applied a vascular neck restraint. Chandler lost consciousness and was hospitalized with severe brain hypoxia, dying three days later. His mother, Janine Chandler, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging the deputies used excessive deadly force without justification, failed to render timely medical aid, and that Tuscaloosa County maintained a custom of inadequate training and discipline. The complaint further asserts the stop was racially motivated, violating the Equal Protection Clause.

As of June 2026, the case is in the discovery phase. The defendants have filed a motion for summary judgment asserting qualified immunity and contesting municipal liability. No settlement or trial date has been set, and the court has not yet ruled on the dispositive motions.

Whether the deputies’ use of repeated Taser deployments and a neck restraint amounted to excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment; whether the officers are entitled to qualified immunity; and whether Tuscaloosa County bears municipal liability under Monell for failing to train and supervise its deputies regarding de-escalation and the prohibition of neck restraints.

The death of Marcus Chandler ignited widespread protests in Alabama and across the United States against police use of neck restraints and racial disparities in traffic stops. Civil rights organizations renewed calls for federal intervention, and the U.S. Department of Justice opened a pattern-or-practice investigation into the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The case has become a focal point in the ongoing national debate over qualified immunity and comprehensive police reform legislation.