Medical Examiner Confirms First Electrocution by Taser

[Judi Lynn]

Medical Examiner Confirms First Electrocution by Taser
Aug 2 - An Illinois coroner became the first to determine that shocks from a Taser weapon were the primary cause of death of a human being, though the controversial devices have been implicated in scores of fatalities across the country.

Cook County Deputy Medical Examiner Scott Denton said that while he could not confirm that the Taser shot alone killed the 54-year-old man this past February due to the presence of large amounts of methamphetamine in his blood, the unusually long shock was the main factor in the man’s death, the Chicago Tribune reported Saturday. A police sergeant shocked Ronald Hasse for 57 seconds with a Taser while attempting to subdue him, the paper reported.

A 2004 Amnesty International report on Tasers found more than 70 mortalities involving Tasers in the United States and Canada since 2001. The Arizona Republic has found 140 such incidents from 1999 to present; in eighteen of those, medical examiners have cited Tasers as having contributed to deaths.

Just yesterday, a 33-year-old man in San Jose, California died after police used pepper spray and a Taser on him during a prolonged struggle, the Associated Press reports. Other localities dealing with recent cases where deaths followed the use of Tasers by police officers include Lancaster County, South Carolina New York and Atlanta.

Taser International, the company that manufactures the weapon, disputes claims that Tasers have been the cause of or even a contributing factor in any deaths. A number of law enforcement officials and officers endorse the use of Tasers, and according to the company, over 7,000 individual law enforcement agencies use the weapon.
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http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_briefs§ionID=6#2173

[fooj]

1. I could be wrong...

but I recollect reading somewhere that Bernard Kerik had something to do with Tasers. Does anybody remember hearing that?

Peace.

[DemInDistress]

2. yes bagdad bernie

was once connected to that taser company.He got out but ibelieve he made some handsome profit...

[Judi Lynn]

3. You're right. I just looked it up.....

Updated: 10:20 a.m. ET Dec. 9, 2004
WASHINGTON - Bernard Kerik, President Bush's choice to run the Homeland Security Department, made $6.2 million by exercising stock options he received from a company that sold stun guns to the department — and seeks more business with it.

Taser International was one of many companies that received consulting advice from Kerik after he left his job as New York City police commissioner in 2001, when he was earning $150,500 a year. Kerik remains on Taser's board of directors, although the company and the White House said he planned to sever the relationship.
(snip/...)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6684832/

[BiggJawn]

5. But that was when "Buzzer Bernie" was going to replace Ridge.

When the "embarrassing" facts about Bernie came to light and the invite to become the new Duct Tape Czar was withdrawn, I believe Kerik halted his plans to divest himself of involvement in Taser, International.

Remember, Kids!
"Every time the Taser Stings, Bernie Kerik's Cash Register Rings!"


"Buy my Product?"

[jody]

4. Previously discussed in the following DU thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1663555