Jurors find deputies used excessive force in death

A federal court jury on Tuesday found five Denver sheriff’s deputies used excessive force against a homeless street preacher who died in 2010.

The jury awarded the family of Marvin Booker $4.65 million in damages.

Booker died after deputies shocked him with a Taser while he was handcuffed, put him in a sleeper hold and lay on top of him.

The Booker family was in tears after the verdict was announced.

An attorney for the family says the force was a malicious overreaction to the 56-year-old because Booker was frail and in poor health.

The lawyer for the deputies says their actions were in line with the sheriff department’s policies.