Mentally Ill Woman Shot By Los Angeles PD Awarded $3.2M

A federal jury has awarded $3.2 million to a mentally ill woman who sued after Los Angeles police shot her and shocked her with a Taser.

The Los Angeles Times reported jurors found that officers were negligent, malicious and used excessive force in their confrontation with Valerie Allen.

Her attorneys say Allen is bipolar and was in a manic episode when she grabbed a wooden stake and knocked down an officer who confronted the incoherent woman in September of 2009.

Other officers shot her three times and shocked her with a stun gun.

Allen was charged with assault with a deadly weapon but the charge was dropped.

Police Chief Charlie Beck says he stands by the officers and a department review concluded they acted reasonably.