On Feb. 18, Kahlif Snowden visited his old neighborhood and was supposed to go to a niece’s birthday party. Instead, Snowden was severely beaten and Tasered by Philadelphia police officers, according to a civil complaint filed Wednesday in Common Pleas Court.
The complaint, filed on behalf of Snowden’s father, John, alleges that officers tried to stop Kahlif near Indiana Avenue and Gransback Street for unknown reasons when the 25-year-old ran.
Officers caught up with Snowden, who offered no resistance, and proceeded to kick, punch, slap and use a Taser on him even after he lay motionless on the ground, according to eyewitnesses.
As a result of the beating, Snowden temporarily stopped breathing, causing massive brain damage and is incapacitated, the complaint alleges. He now resides in a Wyncote nursing home.
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett Gillison said Snowden was arrested for a narcotics violation, but swallowed the bag and “became violently ill.”
“As far as I can tell, there is no internal investigation,” he said.
John Snowden said his son — who had a lengthy arrest sheet and has pleaded guilty to drug possession, aggravated assault and other charges — did not own a gun and did not have drugs on him at the time.
“I would like to see them lose their jobs and I would like to see them charged criminally in a criminal court because it was unnecessary to beat and then Tase him,” Snowden said in an interview.
