Jan 17, 2008 2:52 pm US/Central
Man Dies After Being Tased, Troopers Put On Leave
NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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In attempting to bring an uncooperative driver under control, troopers deployed a taser.
AP
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the death of a Fridley driver who was pronounced dead at a hospital after being shot with a stun gun by state troopers, who said he was being "uncooperative" following a traffic accident.
The man, identified by his father as Mark C. Backlund, was involved a rush-hour crash Tuesday evening on Interstate 694 near Silver Lake Road in New Brighton.
"Troopers attempted to bring the situation and individual under control, and in the process, deployed a taser. Following the incident, the driver was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead," said Lt. Mark Peterson with the Minnesota State Patrol.
Backlund was breathing but unconscious when paramedics arrived, according to Allina Medical Transportation spokesman Tim Burke. He was pronounced dead at Unity Hospital in Fridley.
The official cause of Backlund's death has not been determined, the state Department of Public Safety said. The Anoka County Medical Examiner was performing an autopsy.
Five state troopers were placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure, the Department of Public Safety said.
Backlund's father, Gordon Backlund, said his 29-year-old son was driving to the airport to pick up his parents returning from a Florida trip when he was involved in the crash.
Gordon Backlund said he was told his son's heart stopped. He told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that his son, a 1996 graduate of Fridley High School, had no heart conditions.
"We're looking for what really happened," said Backlund, who said his son's car was the only one involved in the crash. He described his son as caring and loyal, with a good sense of humor. "And it is just going to take time to figure this out."
Peterson wouldn't describe the uncooperative behavior, the newspaper said. He didn't return a telephone call to The Associated Press seeking more information.
Peterson said State Patrol troopers began carrying stun guns about 18 months ago and had no previous deaths related to the stun guns.
According to Taser International, more than 12,000 law enforcement agencies use tasers. Amnesty International more than 290 people have died after being tased.
In June 2006, the Department of Justice National Institute of Justice commissioned a two-year study to look at 150 deaths following taser deployment. It is expected to report its findings later this year.
"It's sometimes upsetting to look at, but really the alternative is a big wrestling match with a police officer and could escalate all the way up to a use of deadly force," said Minneapolis Deputy Chief Scott Gerlicher in October 2007. He spoke about tasers then because the Minneapolis Police Department is equipping some of its tasers with cameras.
His department did an internal study on taser use and found it reduced injuries to the officers completely. Injuries to the people tasered was 5.8 percent compared to 43 percent when officers used traditional force. In 2006, MPD officers used tasers 232 times, up 75 percent from the year before.
About 15 of the tasers used by the MPD are equipped with cameras.
"We know that tasers can be controversial so we want to maximize so we don't lose this valuable tool," Gerlicher said in October.
Dr. Jeffrey Ho, an emergency room physician at Hennepin County Medical Center found the use of tasers doesn't affect your heart activity in the 24 hours after the shock. He also found the taser doesn't affect breathing or respiration. A 2007 study out from Wake Forest Researchers found taser shocks do not significantly increase the heart rate.
Amnesty International said in a presentation to the Department of Justice it has serious concerns about tasers that merit a more thorough investigation.
In most death cases, medical examiners have attributed death to other factors like drugs and underlying health problems. Amnesty International believes tasers should never be used as a low or medium level force option.
Backlund is survived by his parents, Gordon and Linda Backlund of Fridley, his sister Melanie Backlund Moe, and his 2-year-old son, Nathaniel.
"We're in shock," Gordon Backlund said.
"This is a traumatic event for a lot of people," BCA Superintendent Tim O'Malley said late Wednesday. "Someone has died and in fairness to that person, the troopers, family members and others who may have been affected, we need to make sure that we're accurate and thorough."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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