The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut is asking for increased Taser regulation following the death of a Connecticut man who barricaded himself in a New Britain apartment last night.
Police said the man, who has not been identified, was argumentative and threatened officers while holed up in his third-floor apartment on Broad Street. Police entered the building to confront the man and ultimately shot him with a Taser, authorities said.
Police said that soon after, the man experienced a medical condition that led to his death. Authorities have not released any details, and police aren't saying whether or not the man's death could have been triggered by Taser use.
According to the ACLU, Tasers have been linked to heart attacks, and there is concern that the stun guns are not being properly used. On Tuesday, the organization put out a call to increase Taser regulation in police departments around the state.
“The man who died in New Britain overnight is at least the thirteenth person to die after being Tasered by police in Connecticut since 2005, and the fourth in New Britain,” said ACLU Staff Attorney David McGuire, in a release. “Every death is a reminder that the state of Connecticut has not yet adopted clear and reasonable regulations for Taser use, and we urge the legislature to address this crucial issue.”
The ACLU lists three other New Britain deaths that are allegedly linked to Taser use, including those of Miguel Serrano in 2005, Jesus Negron in 2006 and Anibal Rosario Rodriguez in 2010.
The New Britain man is the second person in Connecticut to die this year after being shot with a Taser.
Local
In June, a Meriden man was shot by a stun gun and died, prompting Connecticut NAACP officials to investigate the police department’s Taser use.
Meriden police Lt. Mark Walerysiak responded by saying he had never heard of a death caused by a Taser.
Officials from the local NAACP and the ACLU said Tasers are being used unfairly and without proper training.
