North Carolina County Settles With Pallbearer Who Was Stunned

New Hanover County has reached a settlement with the family of a pallbearer who was zapped with a stun gun as he helped load his father’s coffin into a hearse.

The StarNews of Wilmington, N.C., reports the incident happened five years ago. The case has now been settled for $80,000. The payment comes from the county’s insurance company.

The incident happened when deputies showed up to arrest Gladwyn Taft Russ III at his father’s funeral on an outstanding warrant for making threats against his estranged wife. Authorities say he had earlier refused to turn himself in.

Sheriff’s officials say the plan called for deputies to arrest Russ immediately after the funeral. But they said a miscommunication led deputies to make the arrest earlier and Russ was stunned.