Michigan teen dies after being tasered by cops

[Aslan]

BAY CITY, Michigan — Police in Michigan say a 15-year-old boy has died after being Tasered by officers who were trying to break up a fight.

A Bay City police news release says officers answered a report of an early morning fight on Sunday. The statement says two males were arguing in an apartment, and one of them "attempted to fight the officers."

Police say officers Tasered him, and his reaction led them to immediately call for emergency medical help. He was pronounced dead at Bay Regional Medical Center.

Deputy Chief Thomas Pletzke tells WNEM-TV police placed one officer on administrative leave.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510078,00.html



Odd, I was just mentioning that very thing about folks earlier in a different thread.

[Insomniac]

"attempted to fight the officers."

Trying to fight the officers was not a bright idea. Which sadly, he learned permanently.

[Aslan]

Well put.

This story reminds me of one here in Nashville a few years ago. He died after being tasered as well. Since his father was a well known songwriter it hit the news and then it came out another guy had died earlier in the year after being tasered.
Not sure how to feel about either case, though. When you're on drugs even a taser won't stop you.

http://wpln.org/newstranscripts/?p=90

[Peeperann]

Sad, but he was stupid for fighting the police. Probably a heart problem. Or he was on drugs and between those and the taser, well, again it was stupid.

[sanityslipping]

The kid was an idiot for trying to fight the cops. I'd assume he was under the influence of something.

Its sad that he died at such a young age, before he had a chance to get back on the straight and narrow, but still.

Deputy Chief Thomas Pletzke tells WNEM-TV police placed one officer on administrative leave.

Not sure that I agree with that. I hope it's only standard procedure while they investigate, since there was a death. The cop used what he thought to be non-lethal force, which is understandable considering that he was under attack. It's not like he whipped out his gun and emptied the chamber in the kid.

I do think a few cops are a bit taser happy though. I've seen some videos of ppl getting tasered for what appeared to be no reason other than a shitty attitude, and the cop wasn't in any physical danger.

[sherrz]

Not sure that I agree with that. I hope it's only standard procedure while they investigate, since there was a death.

It's standard procedure. Whenever an officer kills someone they're always put on leave until they can determine that it was justified.

[CountJackula]

I live in Minneapolis and we had a radio DJ who was tased over a domestic dispute and died. He had previous medical conditions that ultimately caused him to die for being tased. Now his mother is trying to sue the police department saying that they should never had tased him even tho he came after the officers.
Everytime this happens it opens up a huge debate about tasers. But there would probably be A) more dead police officers or B) More dead criminals, if police stopped using them.

It sucks that some people die from being tased... but maybe the shouldnt have been fuckin around

[Harley_Tech]

It's standard procedure. Whenever an officer kills someone they're always put on leave until they can determine that it was justified.

No silly, killing crooks is hard work and the officer needs a little down time after. Paid vacation YAY Cop!

R

[smallwonder4]

I see this is an unpopular view, but why couldn't they just let the boys fight? Was it the kind of fight that could have resulted in death? Did these kids have guns or weapons? Was that the only option? The cops couldn't handle this without a taser? I realize that I could not personally fight off many 15 year old boys these days, they can be big and tough etc, but -though I have a degree that would suit me for police work- that is why I'm not a cop! (I'd be furious if I called the cops and a "me" showed up too)

That's just what went through my mind while reading this. It was stupid for the kid to fight the cops, but was it worth his death sentence?

[Harley_Tech]

I see this is an unpopular view, but why couldn't they just let the boys fight? Was it the kind of fight that could have resulted in death? Did these kids have guns or weapons? Was that the only option? The cops couldn't handle this without a taser? I realize that I could not personally fight off many 15 year old boys these days, they can be big and tough etc, but -though I have a degree that would suit me for police work- that is why I'm not a cop! (I'd be furious if I called the cops and a "me" showed up too)

That's just what went through my mind while reading this. It was stupid for the kid to fight the cops, but was it worth his death sentence?

I see your point, to a point. The cops were not called to referee the fight. I'm sure other residents called with the thought of them calming the situation. When the kid turned on the cops they did opt for a non-lethal solution, it just went all wrong some place.

I wonder is the kid will be found to have had some health issue that caused the Taser to be a lethal option.

I can hear it now. ACLU, officers must first ask criminals if they have any health issues that may be effected by the use of Tasers, prior to deploying Tasers... :eyeroll:

I wonder if Tasers have ever really been tested on adrenalin charged subjects. Not in the field, but in the companies testing.

I'm no doctor so I really don't have any idea if adrenalin might be altered in the presence of electrical current. Edit: I guess if it was a bad thing, then defibrillators would kill more people...never mind.


R

[MadmamainNC]

We had a guy where I live who died from being tased.

187. April 16, 2006: Billy Ray Cook, 39, Dublin, North Carolina

The rest of the is here -and growing
399+ Dead After Taser Use (http://truthnottasers.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-follows-are-names-where-known.html)

.

[malq]

Can anyone explain exactly why someone dies from being tased? I do not understand that.

[RaVen Blackehart]

Can anyone explain exactly why someone dies from being tased? I do not understand that.

I think it's like being electrocuted.

[malq]

What the hell is going on in Michigan anyways?

Michigan police taser nude man outside church
The Associated Press
Updated: 02/20/2009 07:41:10 PM CST


BAY CITY, Mich.—Going to church brought no peace to a man Tasered by police as he stood in the nude in 27-degree weather. A funeral Mass was being held inside St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church when police received 911 calls about a naked man Friday morning. Sgt. Gordon Cameron said the man told officers he was having problems with his parents and wanted to go to church.
Cameron told The Bay City Times that the man cursed and verbally abused police before Officer Troy Sierras immobilized him with a Taser, an electronic device that fires barbs causing temporary paralysis.

The man was draped in a blanket and taken to Bay Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Cameron said the man, whose name was withheld, likely wouldn't be charged with any crime.

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Information from: The Bay City Times, http://www.mlive.com/bay-city
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/bay-city-mi/TAA3OK95LRNJ9JJ6L