Burson v. State

On March 28, 1997, Donnie Burson was involuntarily admitted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Psychiatric Center (the "hospital"). His caseworker called on law enforcement officers to escort him into the hospital building because he was becoming violent. Officer Jan McDuff was one of the officers who responded. When Officer McDuff arrived at the scene in front of the hospital building, another officer, Officer Kenny Woods, was present. As Officer McDuff approached, Burson, who was extremely agitated and who had been shouting obscenities at Officer Woods, lunged toward Officer McDuff,…