Another taser death...
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http://cjonline.com/stories/040308/loc_264549642.shtml
No word on whether deputy's taser killed man
Sheriff, co-worker detail last minutes
By Ann Marie Bush
The Capital-Journal
Published Thursday, April 03, 2008
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. employee Marc Luetje said he watched Saturday as a female Shawnee County sheriff's deputy tased his co-worker Walter E. Haake Jr. three times.
"They had his keys, where was he going to go?" asked Luetje, who had worked with Haake for about 10 years.
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Anthony S. Bush / The Capital-Journal
Robert Havens, who describes himself as a concerned citizen, protests Wednesday outside the sheriff's office. He says he doesn't need medical attention and asks that he not be tased.
Anthony S. Bush / The Capital-Journal
Shawnee County Sheriff Dick Barta says a deputy tased an employee at the Topeka Goodyear plant three times over the weekend after he refused to exit his vehicle. The man, who had been experiencing a medical condition, later died.
USE OF FORCE
Sheriff Dick Barta said his department began using Tasers in 2004. In that year, there were 32 use-of-force issues (Taser, billy club or Mace) out of 3,297 arrests.
In 2007, there were 21 use-of-force issues. Of those, 14 were tasers out of 3,500 arrests.
Haake, 59, of Lawrence, who goes by "Ed," was pronounced dead at 12:37 a.m. Sunday.
At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff Dick Barta said he didn't know if the taser killed Haake and won't have an answer until the autopsy report is released. Sgt. Danny Lotridge, spokesman for the sheriff's office, said the coroner's autopsy report "could take weeks."
Barta said deputies had Haake's keys in hand when they tased him in the Goodyear parking lot. The taser was used in its drive stun mode, which means it can be held against a person without firing a cartridge. In this capacity, the taser can cause pain without being incapacitating, Barta said.
Barta said the sheriff's office received a medical emergency call at 11:17 p.m. Saturday. The first deputy arrived at Goodyear at 11:22 p.m. and found Haake behind the wheel of a white Jeep. Goodyear employees, including fire and rescue personnel, also were on the scene.
Luetje was one of the employees. In a phone interview Wednesday, Luetje said Haake had fallen down some steps at home earlier Saturday and sustained a head injury. He arrived for work at 11 a.m.
Luetje said he saw Haake at about 10:45 p.m in the break room surrounded by Goodyear first-responders. Luetje later saw Haake walking along a hallway.
"I said, 'Come on Ed, let's get some help,' " Luetje said, who added that Haake refused his offer. "He barely said anything. He was sweating a lot and walking funny. He was hunched over to the right and was taking labored steps."
The next time Luetje saw Haake, he was being assisted to his car by Goodyear first-responders.
"I watched him walk to his car and put his stuff in the passenger seat," Luetje said.
He noted that the keys to Haake's vehicle were in a bag on the passenger seat.
Barta said the first deputy on scene questioned Haake. American Medical Response arrived, as well as another deputy, each of whom also tried to communicate with Haake. An AMR supervisor said Haake was in need of medical attention, Barta said, and asked deputies to intervene by removing Haake from the vehicle.
Haake "continued to be uncooperative," Barta said, adding that Goodyear employees pleaded with Haake to leave the vehicle, but he continued to grip the steering wheel.
Deputies asked Haake to leave his vehicle or risk being tased, Barta said. After Haake didn't comply, a deputy used a drive stun for 2 seconds on Haake's left thigh.
"He felt the pain, but just swatted it away," Barta said.
Luetje said he didn't believe the use of force was necessary, but added that his friend needed medical help and wasn't getting out of the Jeep.
A deputy delivered a second 2-second drive stun to Haake's left thigh, Barta said. After the third drive stun — this one of 4 seconds — Haake was removed from his vehicle.
"There was a brief physical confrontation," Barta said, before Haake was handcuffed.
Luetje said he didn't see a physical confrontation but said it did take officers about 45 seconds to handcuff Haake, who was lying on the ground. He said when officers and AMR personnel tried to get Haake to stand up, he was unresponsive.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered with Haake still handcuffed behind his back, Luetje said. After about 20 minutes of CPR, Luetje said the handcuffs were removed and an IV started.
Haake was taken to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center, where he was pronounced dead, Barta said
The incident is under investigation by the sheriff's department and the coroner's office, he said.
Barta said the two deputies involved had unblemished records and remained on duty Wednesday.
"Their intent was to get this person help," he said. "My sympathy goes out to the family, but my empathy goes out to the officers and their families."
Lisa Spangler-Ignoto, Goodyear communications manager, said the company had no comment.
The sheriff's department released no information about the death until late Monday afternoon, more than two days after the incident. Barta said he was out of town and delayed the news release until his return.
Outside the sheriff's office Wednesday afternoon, two people, including Goodyear employee John McNown, waved signs in protest. One sign read, "Tasers don't kill, bad cops do," and another read, "To protect and serve, not kill."
"I still can't believe it," said McNown, who worked closely with Haake. "You no longer have the right to refuse medical attention."
No word on whether deputy's taser killed man
Sheriff, co-worker detail last minutes
By Ann Marie Bush
The Capital-Journal
Published Thursday, April 03, 2008
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. employee Marc Luetje said he watched Saturday as a female Shawnee County sheriff's deputy tased his co-worker Walter E. Haake Jr. three times.
"They had his keys, where was he going to go?" asked Luetje, who had worked with Haake for about 10 years.
Print E-mail Comment
Anthony S. Bush / The Capital-Journal
Robert Havens, who describes himself as a concerned citizen, protests Wednesday outside the sheriff's office. He says he doesn't need medical attention and asks that he not be tased.
Anthony S. Bush / The Capital-Journal
Shawnee County Sheriff Dick Barta says a deputy tased an employee at the Topeka Goodyear plant three times over the weekend after he refused to exit his vehicle. The man, who had been experiencing a medical condition, later died.
USE OF FORCE
Sheriff Dick Barta said his department began using Tasers in 2004. In that year, there were 32 use-of-force issues (Taser, billy club or Mace) out of 3,297 arrests.
In 2007, there were 21 use-of-force issues. Of those, 14 were tasers out of 3,500 arrests.
Haake, 59, of Lawrence, who goes by "Ed," was pronounced dead at 12:37 a.m. Sunday.
At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff Dick Barta said he didn't know if the taser killed Haake and won't have an answer until the autopsy report is released. Sgt. Danny Lotridge, spokesman for the sheriff's office, said the coroner's autopsy report "could take weeks."
Barta said deputies had Haake's keys in hand when they tased him in the Goodyear parking lot. The taser was used in its drive stun mode, which means it can be held against a person without firing a cartridge. In this capacity, the taser can cause pain without being incapacitating, Barta said.
Barta said the sheriff's office received a medical emergency call at 11:17 p.m. Saturday. The first deputy arrived at Goodyear at 11:22 p.m. and found Haake behind the wheel of a white Jeep. Goodyear employees, including fire and rescue personnel, also were on the scene.
Luetje was one of the employees. In a phone interview Wednesday, Luetje said Haake had fallen down some steps at home earlier Saturday and sustained a head injury. He arrived for work at 11 a.m.
Luetje said he saw Haake at about 10:45 p.m in the break room surrounded by Goodyear first-responders. Luetje later saw Haake walking along a hallway.
"I said, 'Come on Ed, let's get some help,' " Luetje said, who added that Haake refused his offer. "He barely said anything. He was sweating a lot and walking funny. He was hunched over to the right and was taking labored steps."
The next time Luetje saw Haake, he was being assisted to his car by Goodyear first-responders.
"I watched him walk to his car and put his stuff in the passenger seat," Luetje said.
He noted that the keys to Haake's vehicle were in a bag on the passenger seat.
Barta said the first deputy on scene questioned Haake. American Medical Response arrived, as well as another deputy, each of whom also tried to communicate with Haake. An AMR supervisor said Haake was in need of medical attention, Barta said, and asked deputies to intervene by removing Haake from the vehicle.
Haake "continued to be uncooperative," Barta said, adding that Goodyear employees pleaded with Haake to leave the vehicle, but he continued to grip the steering wheel.
Deputies asked Haake to leave his vehicle or risk being tased, Barta said. After Haake didn't comply, a deputy used a drive stun for 2 seconds on Haake's left thigh.
"He felt the pain, but just swatted it away," Barta said.
Luetje said he didn't believe the use of force was necessary, but added that his friend needed medical help and wasn't getting out of the Jeep.
A deputy delivered a second 2-second drive stun to Haake's left thigh, Barta said. After the third drive stun — this one of 4 seconds — Haake was removed from his vehicle.
"There was a brief physical confrontation," Barta said, before Haake was handcuffed.
Luetje said he didn't see a physical confrontation but said it did take officers about 45 seconds to handcuff Haake, who was lying on the ground. He said when officers and AMR personnel tried to get Haake to stand up, he was unresponsive.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered with Haake still handcuffed behind his back, Luetje said. After about 20 minutes of CPR, Luetje said the handcuffs were removed and an IV started.
Haake was taken to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center, where he was pronounced dead, Barta said
The incident is under investigation by the sheriff's department and the coroner's office, he said.
Barta said the two deputies involved had unblemished records and remained on duty Wednesday.
"Their intent was to get this person help," he said. "My sympathy goes out to the family, but my empathy goes out to the officers and their families."
Lisa Spangler-Ignoto, Goodyear communications manager, said the company had no comment.
The sheriff's department released no information about the death until late Monday afternoon, more than two days after the incident. Barta said he was out of town and delayed the news release until his return.
Outside the sheriff's office Wednesday afternoon, two people, including Goodyear employee John McNown, waved signs in protest. One sign read, "Tasers don't kill, bad cops do," and another read, "To protect and serve, not kill."
"I still can't believe it," said McNown, who worked closely with Haake. "You no longer have the right to refuse medical attention."
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