Nye County Sheriff's Office deputies have reportedly admitted using excessive force in a Taser incident last year involving Robert Smith, a resident of Pahrump.

Smith subsequently filed a federal lawsuit against the sheriff's department, and specifically Dep.'s Joe Casey and John Bergstrom, alleging he was battered when the deputies tased him five times, causing injuries to his heart.

According to Smith, who was 65 years old at the time of the incident, he had called the sheriff for assistance when his wife, Jeanette, collapsed.

A press release from Smith's legal counsel, the law offices of Blake Horowitz, said that the in their response to the Smith complaint, "the defendants admit, 'some of the force applied to the plaintiff via the Tasers was excessive, unreasonable, and unnecessary.'"

Smith amended his original complaint in December of last year, adding the entire county as a defendant because he alleges "it is a matter of practice and policy for Nye County employees (such as the defendants) to cover-up their misconduct in an effort to shield themselves, other officers, and the county from investigation and liability."

Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo said he was unable to comment on the matter, but did confirm that the incident was currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Justice Department as well as Internal Affairs.