Post by KC on Apr 18, 2006 18:59:56 GMT -5
August 29, 2005 - ADELPHI, Ohio -- A man died while in police custody, and the events that led to his death are under investigation, NBC 4's Elizabeth Scarborough reported.
Several 911 calls were received at about 7:45 p.m. Friday. Callers said a man was standing in the middle of state Route 327, flagging down cars.
A nearby resident called police to say a man had stole his truck.
Deputies responded and found the truck wrapped around a tree a few miles down the road, just outside the home of 40-year-old Shawn Norman. Police said Norman escaped the wreckage and ran into nearby woods.
Ross County Sheriff Ron Nichols said Norman refused to listen to officers, so they used a Taser gun to stop him.
"Shawn Norman got back up and charged the officer again," Nichols said.
Officials said they wrestled with the man and the Taser fired again, shocking a deputy. The struggle continued until another deputy arrived and hit Norman again with a Taser from behind.
"Finally, when he did break hold, (and was) handcuffed, he experienced breathing problems," Nichols said.
Norman was taken to Berger Hospital, where he died of heart failure.
Witnesses described Norman as crazed, delirious and high on drugs.
"He was paranoid, seeing things we wasn't seeing," an unidentified witness said.
"He says, 'Sherry, take care of the kids. I'm going to get killed tonight,'" said Dick Bode, a witness.
Officials are still investigating why he suffered heart failure.
Norman's son questioned the use of the Taser guns.
"I don't think they are (necessary) to the extent (that) they kill somebody," Erik Norman said.
But Nichols insisted there was no intent to kill.
Scarborough: "Could the heart attack have been caused by the Taser?"
Nichols: "I don't think so."
Preliminary reports showed cocaine and marijuana were in Norman's system. It could take up to eight weeks for officials to know the exact cause of death.
Several 911 calls were received at about 7:45 p.m. Friday. Callers said a man was standing in the middle of state Route 327, flagging down cars.
A nearby resident called police to say a man had stole his truck.
Deputies responded and found the truck wrapped around a tree a few miles down the road, just outside the home of 40-year-old Shawn Norman. Police said Norman escaped the wreckage and ran into nearby woods.
Ross County Sheriff Ron Nichols said Norman refused to listen to officers, so they used a Taser gun to stop him.
"Shawn Norman got back up and charged the officer again," Nichols said.
Officials said they wrestled with the man and the Taser fired again, shocking a deputy. The struggle continued until another deputy arrived and hit Norman again with a Taser from behind.
"Finally, when he did break hold, (and was) handcuffed, he experienced breathing problems," Nichols said.
Norman was taken to Berger Hospital, where he died of heart failure.
Witnesses described Norman as crazed, delirious and high on drugs.
"He was paranoid, seeing things we wasn't seeing," an unidentified witness said.
"He says, 'Sherry, take care of the kids. I'm going to get killed tonight,'" said Dick Bode, a witness.
Officials are still investigating why he suffered heart failure.
Norman's son questioned the use of the Taser guns.
"I don't think they are (necessary) to the extent (that) they kill somebody," Erik Norman said.
But Nichols insisted there was no intent to kill.
Scarborough: "Could the heart attack have been caused by the Taser?"
Nichols: "I don't think so."
Preliminary reports showed cocaine and marijuana were in Norman's system. It could take up to eight weeks for officials to know the exact cause of death.