California Man Tasered and Jailed After Seizure, Wins $3.15M Settlement

Police ignored medical emergency, used excessive force, and fabricated charges against Bruce Frankel, who regrets not taking the case to trial.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:22pm

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Bruce Frankel, a 61-year-old Northern California man, suffered a seizure in his home in 2022. Instead of treating it as a medical emergency, police arrived, tasered Frankel, and arrested him on fabricated charges of resisting arrest and battery on a peace officer. Frankel spent over $10,000 defending himself before the charges were dropped. He later filed a lawsuit and agreed to a $3.15 million settlement, but expressed regret about not taking the case to trial to hold the officers accountable.

Why it matters

This case highlights issues of police escalation, use of force, and failure to properly respond to medical crises. It raises concerns about the treatment of individuals experiencing seizures or other mental health episodes, as well as the practice of officers submitting false reports to justify their actions.

The details

In August 2022, Bruce Frankel's fiancée Alice called 911 when Frankel suffered a tonic-clonic seizure in their home. When police arrived, officer Kevin Sinnott immediately tried to restrain the disoriented Frankel, who instinctively pulled away. Sinnott then tasered Frankel, and more officers arrived and handcuffed him. Frankel was taken to the hospital, where staff confirmed he had suffered a seizure, and then to jail on charges of resisting arrest and battery on a peace officer. The district attorney also considered charging Frankel with domestic battery, but the body camera footage did not support that claim. The charges were ultimately dropped, and Frankel filed a lawsuit in 2024 accusing the officers of using excessive force, ignoring medical protocols, and submitting false reports.

  • On August 29, 2022, Bruce Frankel suffered a seizure in his home.
  • In April 2024, Frankel filed a lawsuit against the Central Marin Police Authority.
  • In 2026, Frankel agreed to a $3.15 million settlement with the police authority.

The players

Bruce Frankel

A 61-year-old Northern California man who suffered a seizure in his home and was subsequently tasered and arrested by police, despite being in an altered state of mind.

Alice Frankel

Bruce Frankel's fiancée, who called 911 when he suffered the seizure.

Kevin Sinnott

A Central Marin police officer who responded to the 911 call and immediately escalated the situation from a medical emergency to a criminal matter.

Central Marin Police Authority

The law enforcement agency that employed the officers involved in the incident and ultimately agreed to the $3.15 million settlement.

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What they’re saying

“I regret the settlement. It did not give me the opportunity that I was looking for to have our day in court and to properly hold these people responsible in public.”

— Bruce Frankel

What’s next

The Central Marin Police Authority has stated that the settlement was a decision to avoid further litigation and expense, and not an admission of liability or wrongdoing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for better police training and protocols when responding to medical emergencies, as well as the importance of holding law enforcement accountable for excessive use of force and fabricating charges against individuals experiencing mental health crises.