Man set on fire by Taser sues Florida sheriff's office, deputies over use of force: court records

A Florida man who was set on fire at a gas station has filed a lawsuit against the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, alleging the agency used excessive resources to target bikers for minor traffic violations. 

Officials said motorcycle rider Jean Louis Barreto-Baerga, then 26, was tased while he was soaked with gasoline back in 2022, and burns now cover 75% of his body. 

However, the attorneys leading the case said it goes much deeper than the one case. 

What happened to Jean Louis Barreto-Baerga?

The backstory:

Records show that on Feb. 27, 2022, a large group of motorcycle riders, which included Barreto-Baerga, were leaving a memorial ride near La Terraza Sports Bar on Donegan Road in Kissimmee, honoring a rider who had passed away in an accident the prior year.

Before leaving the memorial, officials said an assault by a person on a motorcycle was reported about a mile from the sports bar.

Court documents state Barreto-Baerga was seen riding a wheelie on Donegan Road, prompting a chase from deputies.

Reports show the chase ended at a Wawa gas station at John Young and Central Florida parkways.

Deputies were made aware Barreto-Baerga was not the suspect they were looking for, court documents show.

Barreto-Baerga was filling up his bike with gas, the lawsuit states, when he was tackled to the ground by sheriffs. 

Records state Barreto-Baerga was later tasered twice, the second time lighting him on fire. As he was filling up his motorcycle with gas, the gas ignited, exploding and submerging him in fire, the lawsuit said.

Deputy on trial

The trial for David Crawford, the deputy who fired the Taser, began in November.

Crawford faced misdemeanor charges of culpable negligence with personal injury.

What they're saying:

"This defendant’s reckless actions resulted in a fiery explosion, essentially engulfing that pump and all of the surrounding area in flames," the prosecutor said during opening statements.

Crawford’s defense argued he was fulfilling his duty. 

"The state is right — my client and all police officers are supposed to protect and serve, and that is what he was doing that day," the defense attorney said.  

Crawford was acquitted by a jury of any criminal negligence.

Now, he is one of the names listed as defendants in the lawsuit.

What details are in the lawsuit?

What we know:

The 29-page lawsuit filed in federal court has been filed against Osceola County, as well as six deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. One of the named deputies is current Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez.

The legal action argues this approach was on full display in recent law enforcement operations targeting motorcycle riders. The lawsuit alleges Lopez encouraged and ratified excessive use of force, adding the sheriff even broadcast that message with social media posts and videos online.

One of the mentioned videos shows deputies chasing dirt bike riders in Osceola County.

Attorneys said a culture within the sheriff's office that praises spectacular punitive uses of force, even for minor offenses, is on full display. 

The cop-style video is titled "Busted by the Sheriff," and features slow motion shots, action music and thermal aerials of a K-9 takedown.

The video, which still is up online, mainly features Lopez, who is seen running after a suspect. 

The lawsuit alleges Barreto-Baerga suffered:

  • Severe permanent physical injury
  • Prevention of ability to work
  • Monetary losses
  • Physical inconvenience and discomfort

What we don't know:

Attorney told the FOX 35 news team on Thursday that Barreto-Baerga was not doing any interviews at the time. 

The news team has reached out again Friday to see when Barreto-Baerga may be willing to speak.

Where are we at now? 

What's next:

Since the incident, attorneys said Barreto-Baerga has undergone extensive medical treatments, which cost millions of dollars.  

Records state Barreto-Baerga is looking for monetary compensation for damages, cost disbursements, pre-and post-judgment interest, and attorney fees from all the parties involved. Attorneys also demanded a jury trial. 

The FOX 35 news team reached out to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office for comment on Thursday and received a response Friday.

"We appreciate your interest, but we respectfully decline to comment or participate in an interview at this time," the response said. "We will be in touch if there are any updates or changes in the future."

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, Romanucci & Blandin LLC and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Osceola CountyCrime and Public SafetyKissimmee