A Florida woman filed a lawsuit after she says a deputy who tased her with a stun gun, apologized by sending her a cake that read, “Sorry I Tased You” in blue frosting.
The cake wasn’t a sweet enough gesture for Stephanie Byron who sued former Escambia County sheriff’s Deputy Michael Wohlers in May. A photo of the cake was posted to social media and since has been a constant object of mockery.
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The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Pensacola, alleges Wohlers violated Byron’s civil rights, committed battery against her and caused her hardships, including physical injuries, monetary loss, medical expenses, humiliation and mental anguish. Wohlers’ attorney wouldn’t comment Thursday but denied the allegations in a court document. The incident happened in June 2015 when Wohlers stopped by an apartment complex where Byron was working. According to court documents, Wohlers was in his full uniform and “used his apparent law enforcement authority to intimidate, harass, and threaten” Byron about her personal life. The lawsuit says Wohlers took Byron’s tea, and when she went to retrieve it he fired his stun gun at her. She said she was knocked to the floor and the court document says Wohlers “jumped onto Ms. Byron, kneeing her in the chest.” He then removed the stun gun prods from her body and left. The lawsuit also says Wohlers told his employer that he accidentally discharged his device into a pillow at his house. Sometime after that, Wohlers baked Byron a cake. Byron’s attorney entered a photo of the cake as an exhibit into the court file. h/t abc7
On Monday, the county’s Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission announced it had reviewed the case and placed Wohlers on a one-year probationary period from serving at any law enforcement agency in Florida.
Byron is seeking compensatory damages, costs, expenses and reasonable attorney’s fees.
The suit names Deputy Michael Wohler and Sheriff David Morgan (pictured above) of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.