Detectives Investigating The Death Of Man After Taser Deployment

Location:  Center median of the roadway in the 1000 block of S. Market Street, Wilmington, DE

Date of Occurrence:   Thursday, November 4, 2010, 12:00 a.m.

Victim:   40 year old Wilmington, DE man

Resume:   The Delaware State Police are investigating the death of a 40 year old Wilmington man after a struggle with Troopers late last night in Wilmington.

The incident occurred just after midnight on Thursday, November 04, 2010, as State Troopers from Delaware State Police Troop 2 were dispatched to the 1000 block of S. Market Street, Wilmington, DE in reference to the report of two people fighting in the roadway. The first trooper arrived to find a male and a female in the middle of S. Market Street. It appeared that the two subjects were fighting. As the trooper attempted to escort the two subjects out of the roadway, the male suspect refused to comply. The male subject then became agitated and combative and actively resisted arrest. A struggle then ensued between the trooper and the male subject. The trooper then deployed his divisionally issued taser; however the trooper was unable to successfully take the suspect into custody. At this point, two additional troopers arrived at the scene and attempted to assist in taking the subject into custody. The subject continued to actively resist arrest. It was at this time that a 15 year veteran of the state police assigned to Troop 2 then deployed his divisionally issued taser. The subject then discontinued resisting arrest and was placed in handcuffs. It was at this point that the troopers realized that he had gone into cardiac arrest and immediately began administering CPR and additional life saving efforts until paramedics arrived. The male subject was then transported to the Christiana Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:13 a.m. His body was turned over to the Delaware State Medical Examiner’s Office where an autopsy will be performed today to determine the exact cause and manner of death.
 

The 15 year veteran of the state police was not injured. A three year veteran trooper sustained a minor injury to his knee and refused treatment. The third trooper, a 6 year veteran, who had responded to the incident, was transported from the scene to the Christiana Hospital where he was treated and released with a hand injury. All three Troopers involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave, as per department policy, pending the outcome of this investigation by the State Police and the Attorney General’s Office.