Monday, May 18, 2009

(Another) Death in Texas

Sadly, post-tasing deaths aren't going to stop anytime soon. Another from Texas:

An unidentified man died in Galveston County on Sunday night after police used a Taser during a struggle to take him into custody.

La Marque police officers responding to a call about a man rolling around in a ditch in the 2600 block of Main near Lake tried to arrest the man, who officials said apparently was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

During a struggle to arrest the man, an officer used a Taser on him once, police said.

Police called an ambulance to evaluate what they said at the time was a non-life-threatening injury the man sustained during the arrest, the Galveston County District Attorney's office said today.

He was en route to Southeast Memorial Hospital for evaluation when his heart stopped. The ambulance was re-routed to Mainland Center Hospital in Texas City, where the man was pronounced dead.

The case is being investigated by the Galveston County sheriff and district attorney, and likely will be referred to a grand jury, investigators said.