Taser didn't kill suspect, autopsy finds

[ridgerunner]

Police say man choked to death on bag that may have contained cocaine

By CHRIS JONES
Staff Writer

A Nashville man suspected of selling drugs choked to death on a plastic bag that may have contained crack cocaine, authorities said a preliminary autopsy shows, not from being stunned with a Taser.

Police said Walter Lamont Seats' death was not caused by the 50,000-volt "touch stun" he received Friday as officers tried to arrest him on suspicions that he had sold drugs to an undercover officer.

"The bag containing the apparent cocaine went down his airway instead of his esophagus," said Don Aaron, spokesman for Metro police. "The autopsy shows no direct connection between a 'touch stun' of Seats with a Taser and his death."

>snip

"The autopsy did not indicate that Mr. Seats had any other significant injuries other than superficial abrasions as a result of his struggle with police officers," Aaron said. "None of those abrasion caused significant injuries."

more:http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050529/COUNTY0107/505290405/1001

[uppityperson]

1. Why did the bag do down his airway?

Taser me and I'd probably choke on the gum I was chewing. Death by chewing gum, not tasering?

[seriousstan]

2. Death by trying to conceal the crack he was selling.

A little different than you legally chewing gum. But don't let the facts get in your way of defending the criminal and vilifying the police.

[uppityperson]

4. Excuse me? What is this about?

I am not defending or vilifying anyone. Now, why would he have inhaled this bag? He got tased while having it in his mouth. I would inhale gum that I had in my mouth. We both would die of axphyxiation. Yes he was a criminal and I not, if I were in a place where chewing gum is legal-not in (oh crap, Indonesia? where is it?). However we would both be dead and the reason is because we got tasered while having something in our mouths.

People dealing crack need to be arrested and taken off the streets.

[Warpy]

3. I was thinking the same thing

He had the bag in his mouth and aspirated it down his windpipe when the shock hit him.

[Tippy]

5. But they knew it was in his mouth

Police reported Seats put something in his mouth as officers began to move in...

They should not have tazed this fellow in my book...

[uppityperson]

9. That is the problem, when to taze, when not to.

Don't taser if under a certain age. Don't taser if you observe them putting something into their mouth.

People dealing crack need to be arrested and put away.

[Gregorian]

6. I think this works against the police.

Maybe people are reacting more violently toward cops, now that they use these pieces of equipment. I remember being a kid and not having the feeling I have toward police, that I have now. It seems to me that if someone is that dangerous, maybe just letting them be is the best reaction. Patiently waiting until they can be handled. Not zapping them. Everyone ought to be outraged by this. Just what if they tazer you on accident. Or your kids. This is wrong. Wrong for both cops and suspects.

edit- So basically these cops murdered this guy. First of all, drugs shouldn't even be illegal. Stealing elections and starting wars should be illegal. God, cocaine was in Cocacola not too long ago. Where is the outrage?

[BobbyinPortland]

7. He deserved it

he deserved what he got for doing what he did. Had he been in a different place, a different mind set and not selling drugs he might not be dead now.

It's about choice and he chose badly.

[daleo]

8. Selling drugs deserves death?

Essentially that is what you seem to be saying. We all choose badly sometimes, but that doesn't mean we should die for it.

The case of capital punishment for murder is perhaps more arguable.

On edit - also note that the article says he was "suspected of selling drugs". And not the phrase "apparent cocaine".

[SoCalDem]

10. It was scurvy, I tell ya...

:)

[HardWorkingDem]

11. Variety of reasons...

It looks like they were trying to get him to spit it out...there is also such a thing as cocaine toxicity.....so ingesting a bunch of the stuff can kill....

What else are people supposed to do? First he was tased and died and it was the cops' fault, and if he died because of an overdose it would have been the cops fault....cops can't win anymore....

HWD

[newyawker99]

12. Hi HardWorkingDem!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: