Judge rules Superior Police Officer violated DoorDash driver’s rights when tasing him

Body cam video still of Ian Cuyper being tased

(Ian Cuypers)

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A federal judge ruled Superior Police Officer Taylor Gaard violated the Fourth Amendment Rights of Ian Cuypers when she deploying her taser on Cuypers’ lower back and legs.  The ruling was made in what is called a “summary judgment”.

The incident happened during a traffic stop on the evening of February 28, 2024.

Cuypers was driving delivering orders for DoorDash.  Superior Police Officer Justin Taylor observed Cuypers turn and begin driving the wrong way down a one-way street.  Officer Taylor activated his lights and Cuypers pulled over.  Taylor called for backup, saying on his radio that Cuyers was moving a lot in his car after he pulled over.  Officers Taylor Gaard and Matthew Brown and non-defendant officers Jason Moen and Dylan Crist arrived on the scene.

Cuyper was eventually tased by Gaard after walking back towards police.  Cuyper is suing three Superior Police Officers and the City of Superior in federal court.

While the judge said Gaard violated Cuyper’s rights, using excessive against Cuypers, this does not end the case.

The court case will still need to determine if:

• Defendants Taylor and Brown failed to intervene to prevent Gaard from deploying her taser.
• Defendants Taylor and Gaard used excessive force against Cuypers in pointing his firearm at him.
• Defendant Gaard failed to intervene to prevent Taylor from pointing his firearm.
• Defendants Gaard, Taylor, and Brown violated Wisconsin law by initiating a malicious prosecution against him for obstructing officers.
• Defendants Gaard, Taylor, and Brown violated Wisconsin law by intentionally inflicting emotional distress on Cuypers.

A jury will still have to determine compensatory and punitive damages for all claims.  Plus determine indemnification against the City of Superior.

Final pretrial conferences for the case are now slated for mid-July, with jury selection and trial set for July 27, 2026.

Cuyper was found not guilty at state trial for resisting/obstructing an officer from the incident.