Jawan Dallas' family amends wrongful death lawsuit, names Mobile police officers

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) – Lawyers for the family of a Theodore man who died in a confrontation with police last year have amended a wrongful death lawsuit, naming the officers for the first time.

The family of Jawan “Jay” Dallas filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Mobile in December, alleging that police officers who responded to a burglary alarm in July 2023 used excessive force. In the civil lawsuit, the two officers were identified only as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, and the police department has declined to release their names.

The amended lawsuit seeks the same damages as the original, $36 million – $1 million for each year of Dallas' life. The new lawsuit names police officers Jarred Hutto and Christian Davilla as defendants. A grand jury last year cleared them of any wrongdoing in the incident, but the lawsuit claims their actions caused his death.

“This change was made in line with our commitment to transparency and we firmly believe the lawsuit speaks for itself as we continue the fight for justice on behalf of Jawan Dallas' family and his memory,” the lawyers said in a statement.

City and police officials were not immediately available for comment Thursday. However, the city has denied any wrongdoing in court documents.

The lawsuit alleges that Hutto and Davilla questioned Dallas and a white man at the Plantation Mobile Home Park about the burglary report, even though they did not match the 911 caller's description.

According to the allegations, the officers then illegally demanded that Dallas show identification.

The civil suit alleges that Davilla attacked Dallas as he began to flee. Both officers struck Dallas several times as he begged them to stop, the suit says.

“Unbeknownst to Defendants Hutto and Davilla, their entire interaction with Jawan was observed by an eyewitness who was able to view the entire incident from a clear perspective,” the lawsuit states. “According to this eyewitness, Jawan Dallas was shot multiple times with a Taser without Defendants Hutto and Davilla offering any resistance.”

The lawsuit cites police bodycam footage and claims Dallas was begging for help.

“I can’t breathe. … I don’t want to be George Floyd,” he said, according to the complaint.

According to the lawsuit, neither a police officer nor an official from the Mobile County District Attorney's Office ever spoke with the eyewitness.

The civil case is scheduled to go to trial in April 2026. It was not immediately clear whether the amended complaint would change that timeline.

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