Man dies after Taser arrest
A man in his 20s has died following his arrest in which a Taser was used and discharged a number of times.
A man in his 20s has died following his arrest in which a Taser was used and discharged a number of times.
Officers from Cumbria Constabulary were called to an address on Tuesday where police attempted to arrest Dale Burns on suspicion of causing criminal damage at the flat. During the arrest one officer discharged a Taser at the 27-year-old a number of times. Another officer deployed pepper spray.
He became unwell following the arrest and was taken to Furness General Hospital by officers.
At around 9pm Mr Burns, who lived at the upstairs flat in Hartington Street, was pronounced dead.
The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), who said that the investigation into the death is in its initial stages and as yet no post mortem, which may
indicate a cause of death and any link to the use of a Taser, has been conducted.
The IPCC added that there have so far been no incidents where the use of a Taser has directly resulted in a persons death. In the case of Raoul Moat in July 2010, although he died of a self inflicted gun shot wound to the head, it investigated whether the police use of a Taser contributed to his action.
A death in Durham was also referred in 2006; following an independent assessment and the opinion of the pathologist, it was concluded that there was no causal connection with use of the Taser, and subsequently referred back for local investigation.