Mother of Tasered Son Suing Middletown Housing Authority for Retaliation

The mother whose son was stun gunned by police in 2010 over theft of a Jamaican patty at the high school is suing the Middletown Housing Authority for terminating her housing assistance.

Tanja Jackson, whose Section 8 benefits ceased in March 2012, is charging Middletown Police and the housing authority retaliated against her after her May 2011 lawsuit charging "excessive force police misconduct" in September 2010, when police used an electronic pain device on Tanya Jackson's then-17-year-old son. 

Her suit, filed by Attorney Josephine S. Miller of East Hartford, claims Jackson was denied a due process termination hearing twice and the housing authority "took action to terminate Jackson's Section 8 housing assistance because of, and in concert with," members of the police department. 

In May 2011, Jackson and her then-17-year-old son brought a suit against the city, board of education and Middletown Police. The Taser suit, also filed by Miller, was dismissed on Dec. 17, 2012. 

The suit filed against the housing authority on Jan. 21 says after receiving Section 8 rent assistance for 10 years, Jackson moved on Aug. 26, 2011, to 35 Grand Street, second floor, and agreed to pay $1,000 monthly rent. Her housing agreement stated she would pay $630 monthly and $370 would be paid by Section 8, according to the suit. The housing authority discontinued her benefits on March 31, her lawyer says.

That same Grand Street apartment was the target of a police drug sting in March 2012, when Tanja Jackson and her son Zahrod, 18, were found with crack cocaine, a razor blade with crack residue, marijuana, a smoking pipe, marijuana grinders, packaging materials, and a fake can of soda commonly used to conceal narcotics, according to the arrest report.   

When detectives entered the apartment, the report says, Tanja used her 1-year-old grandchild to shield herself from officers. Also present was Zahrod, a Bloods gang member at the time, according to police. 

Zahrod Jackson was arrested for possession of crack cocaine and related charges, has applied for accelerated rehabilitation for the five felonies and two misdemeanors; and due back in court April 19.

Tanya Jackson was arrested for possession of marijuana, risk of injury to a minor and other charges. In May 2002, according to the Middletown Press, Jackson was arrested for possession of marijuana and risk of injury to a minor. A search of the Connecticut Judicial Website yields no records of Tanya Jackson's arrests.
 
According to the Section 8 suit, Jackson is seeking compensatory damages, costs and injunctive relief from the housing authority, according to court documents.

For the latest on this and all news from Middletown, subscribe to our newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.