A man fractured a vertebra in his neck after a Palo Alto police officer fired a Taser at him outside Stanford Shopping Center. Body-camera video released by the department shows him falling face-first onto the pavement.

The encounter happened the afternoon of July 19, 2026, near the New Balance store. Mall security had been unable to wake and remove a man sleeping on a bench. Police were called for trespassing. Video shows him arguing with an officer and a guard after being awakened. He stands, extends a hand toward the officer, and walks closer. The officer tells him to back up and asks if he wants to go to jail. “You’re going to get tased, dude. You’re going to get tased,” the officer says. “Do it,” the man replies and moves faster toward him.

The officer fires the Taser into his chest. His body stiffens and he falls without bracing. He lies face down with blood from a forehead gash for about three minutes until a second officer handcuffs him. Medics take him to a hospital. Doctors find a fractured neck vertebra and a forehead laceration. He was later discharged. Palo Alto Online identified him as Curtis Anthony Swabb, 63.

He was charged with resisting arrest, trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia. City Manager Ed Shikada told the City Council the man later apologized for his behavior. The city’s independent police auditor opened a review of the use of force. Police posted a briefing video of the incident on YouTube.

Sources

• New York Post, Marina Peña, Sept. 20, 2026
• Palo Alto Online
• Palo Alto Daily Post
• Palo Alto Police Department body-camera / briefing video
• Hoodline reporting on the auditor review