Man says police injured his son

A Harris County man is suing over claims his son was injured during a mental health crisis when detained by police.

Lynn Gordon, as guardian of Deavyn Gordon, and Deavyn Gordon filed a lawsuit Dec. 3, 2014, in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against: Harris County; constable Ken Jones; deputy Jeffrey Gonzales; deputy Kenneth Jones; deputy Lloyd Clark; and deputy Andre Shorts.

According to the complaint, on Dec. 5, 2012, Gonzales responded to a report at North Shore Senior High School regarding 17-year-old Deavyn Gordon having a firearm at school intending to harm himself. The complaint states Gonzales determined Gordon needed a mental health evaluation, took him into custody, and, together with the other defendants, isolated him in the back of a patrol vehicle without removing the firearm and knowing he was suffering from bipolar disorder and depression and intended to harm himself.

The complaint states Gordon shot himself in the car and sustained permanent brain injuries. The defendants are accused of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act and the Civil Rights Act.

The defendants seek actual and exemplary damages, plus attorney fees and court costs. The Gordons are represented by attorneys Sam K. Mukerji and Eric D. Nielsen of Nielsen and Mukerji in Houston, and Amin Alehashem and James C. Harrington of the Texas Civil Rights Project.

Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number: 4:14-CV-03463