DoorDash driver sues Superior PD officers for use of tasers during traffic stop

SUPERIOR, Wis. (Northern News Now) - A DoorDash driver who was tased by Superior police officers has now filed a lawsuit.

Attorneys for 22-year-old Ian Cuypers announced they have filed a multi-count federal civil rights lawsuit seeking damages against the City of Superior and multiple Superior Police Department officers.

They filed legal claims against the officers for excessive force and failure to intervene.

Additionally, they claimed indemnification, which is where one party compensates another for losses, damages, or liabilities, against the City of Superior.

The lawsuit seeks to award compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and punitive damages against each of the officers.

According to the allegations listed in the complaint, the incident happened on Feb. 28, 2024, when Cuypers was driving for DoorDash and he accidentally made a wrong turn down a one-way street.

He was then pulled over by Justin Taylor, who was a probationary SPD officer who had finished field training just two days prior.

Court documents say Cuypers immediately pulled over and began searching for his insurance paperwork in his glove compartment.

“This young man, did everything that you‘re supposed to do when you’re pulled over for a traffic stop,” said one of Cuypers' attorneys Nora Snyder. “He pulled over right away. He followed the officer’s orders.”

Taylor called for backup and four other officers responded including Officer Taylor Gaard and Sgt. Matthew Brown.

According to the complaint, Taylor, Gaard, and Brown then drew their firearms and pointed them at Cuypers’ vehicle.

Court documents say this happened “despite lacking any basis to believe that Cuypers was armed or posed a threat or that he had committed anything more than a minor traffic violation.”

Cuypers was then ordered to exit the vehicle and did so.

At that time, the complaint also indicates police began shouting instructions at him.

However, since multiple officers were shouting, Cuypers said the commands were confusing and difficult for him to understand and obey.

The complaint states that Cuypers was also confused and scared because he did not know what was going on or why the officers were behaving so aggressively.

Cuypers complied when police ordered him to back toward them with his hands over his head.

At some point, Brown ordered Cuypers to get down on his left knee.

Cuypers then asked for an explanation of what was going on, but officers allegedly refused to explain, and one threatened Cuypers would be tased if he didn’t do it immediately.

The complaint alleges that before Cuypers had the opportunity to comply Gaard fired her taser at him twice, striking him in his back and legs.

As officers handcuffed him, Gaard threatened to fire her taser again and then did.

Cuypers was allegedly unarmed, had not made any threatening movements or vocalizations, was complying with the officers’ orders to the best of his ability, and was located several yards away from the officers with his hands up.

“Three officers point guns at him,” said Snyder. “He thought he was going to be killed and he was arrested.”

Court documents say that while Cuypers was waiting in the squad the officers joked about completing his DoorDash delivery and going viral on TikTok.

Cuypers was cited for driving the wrong way on a one-way street and resisting or obstructing a police officer.

He was also released from custody without being booked into the jail.

On July 16, a jury acquitted Cuypers of resisting or obstructing a police officer.

Court documents say that after the incident Cuypers suffered bodily injury, pain and suffering, mental distress, anguish, fear, humiliation, loss of income, and medical expenses.

Cuypers says that he then received a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to the incident, for which he is receiving ongoing therapy and has been prescribed medication.

He has also since moved to Denver, Colorado after indicating he “no longer felt safe living in the Superior area.”

It was also claimed that Cuypers experiences extreme distress while driving and no longer works for DoorDash.

He also lost his job in Denver because he had to travel back to Wisconsin for his criminal trial.

“He was severely traumatized by what happened, and he is ready to take the fight to them and to hold them accountable for what happened to him,” said Snyder.

Superior Police said they were unable to provide a statement on ongoing litigation.

We have not heard from the City of Superior at the time of publishing.

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