Posted on 02/04/2006 11:03:29 AM PST by NormsRevenge
For the first time in Santa Clara County, the coroner's office has listed the use of Tasers by police officers as one of the factors causing a person's death.
The main cause of Jose Angel Rios' death late last year was heart failure during his cocaine-fueled battle against San Jose police officers, according to an autopsy obtained Friday by the Mercury News. The 38-year-old's obesity and heart disease caused by cocaine use were also listed as causes. The manner of death -- accidental, homicide, suicide, etc. -- was ``undetermined.''
Dr. Christopher Happy also concluded a ``contributory cause of death'' was ``Post Tasering and pepper-spraying.''
Two other suspects have died after San Jose police shot them with Tasers. The use of the electric stun gun was not a listed cause in one of those deaths. The other case is still pending an autopsy report.
Rios' autopsy provided fuel for local opponents of Taser use, who have argued San Jose police should carefully constrain or even prohibit the use of the electric stun gun.
``Mr. Rios' situation is very unfortunate,'' said Richard Konda of the Coalition for Justice and Accountability, a local police watchdog group. ``There are just a lot of open questions about Tasers, and we have been afraid people were going to die.''
``I would hope the San Jose Police Department would look at that situation and reconsider its positions on Tasers.''
Gracie Palacios, Rios' sister, also called for a ban. ``No one knows what the effect of these things are,'' Palacios said. ``And the police will never admit to doing something wrong.''
While Police Chief Robert Davis told the Mercury News on Friday that he would remain ``open minded'' to any evidence that showed Tasers as dangerous, Rios' autopsy report ``gave no assistance'' to resolving that issue.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
It's possible, with a very weak heart from cocaine and other things. On the other hand I don't think abandoning pepper spray and tasers in favor of guns would be less lethal, so what alternative is there.
Let's see; fat guy with a bum heart jacked up on coke (no, not Coke, coke) decides to take on the cops and dies. Where did I put my violin? Durn it, I knew I should've kept it in its usual spot under the microscope?
Is this your day job?
Those are the breaks. Would a bullet have been better?
My brother-in-law is a deputy sheriff in Santa Clara County, and must stay there until he's eligible for retirement in a few years. The police and sheriff's depts are under constant attack by the liberal local government. He and my sister moved their family south to Watsonville two years ago to get away from the increasing crime, pollution, and crowding, and will leave the state as soon as he's able to retire.
I am not really totally sold about the safety of using tasers as they exist today on a human to restrain them.
Maybe in the future they will be more benign yet effective tools developed.
Pepper spray works in many cases to at least slow or subdue those being detained.
When you get into serious drug usage and big people, that's a tough one to deal with, for more reasons than one.
Deadly force should be the last resort, sadly today when a situation gets so out of control, there is no alternative. Tasers have yet to deliver as a reliable alternative to deadly force, imo.
I agree tho that we need better means of dealing with situations like this that seem to happen all too frequently. Research goes on.
This guy was a walking time bomb. No way the lawyers can sue his drug dealer(s). So who can we sue? It looks like Dr. Happy has created a new California Gold Rush.
Would a bullet have been better?
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I wish I could tell ya , I wasn't there. Some folks would say, well ya could just wing the person, but keep in mind, police are usually trained otherwise to go for torso mass.
Being a police officer isn't for everyone and I wouldn't wish what they go thru daily on anyone..
Jose was no Angel.
Next time, use live ammo.
"Those are the breaks. Would a bullet have been better?"
Why not just burn him at the stake? Make an example of this illegal doper showing other dopers what can happen when they consume dope that is not approved and authorized by the fed.gov
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