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On October 13, 2021, Joshua Rohrer—a disabled veteran who was homeless and living in Gastonia, North Carolina—experienced one of the worst days of his life. He was standing on the median of a road with his service dog, Sunshine, smiling and waving to passing drivers because spreading positive energy helps him cope with the post- traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression that beset him after his military service. Even though Mr. Rohrer was not asking drivers for anything, Gastonia police officers Cierra Brooks and Maurice Taylor III approached him and arrested him under the City's plainly unconstitutional anti-panhandling ordinances. During the arrest—and despite knowing of Mr. Rohrer's disabilities—the officers unnecessarily escalated the situation, forcing Mr. Rohrer against their car and then to the ground and tasing the unthreatening Sunshine, who ran off and was later killed by a car. Mr. Rohrer was devastated by the death
of his beloved companion Sunshine and attempted to take his own life. He continues to suffer from the injuries the officers inflicted on him.
On October 13, 2021, Joshua Rohrer—a disabled veteran who was homeless and living in Gastonia, North Carolina—experienced one of the worst days of his life. He was standing on the median of a road with his service dog, Sunshine, smiling and waving to passing drivers because spreading positive energy helps him cope with the post- traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression that beset him after his military service. Even though Mr. Rohrer was not asking drivers for anything, Gastonia police officers Cierra Brooks and Maurice Taylor III approached him and arrested him under the City's plainly unconstitutional anti-panhandling ordinances. During the arrest—and despite knowing of Mr. Rohrer's disabilities—the officers unnecessarily escalated the situation, forcing Mr. Rohrer against their car and then to the ground and tasing the unthreatening Sunshine, who ran off and was later killed by a car. Mr. Rohrer was devastated by the death
of his beloved companion Sunshine and attempted to take his own life. He continues to suffer from the injuries the officers inflicted on him.
