News

2 Die After Being Shot With Tasers

TUCKER, Ga. — DeKalb County police are investigating two unrelated deaths after officers used Tasers on them.

The first incident happened at a Tucker motel on Mother's Day. Twenty-nine-year-old Audrecas Davis' family told Channel 2 Action News reporter Richard Elliot that police used a Taser on him when he became combative with paramedics. They said housekeepers discovered the younger Davis semi-conscious on his bed and called 911. Police used a Taser to try and subdue him, Davis' father, Jimmy Davis, told Elliot. Davis said his son weighed more than 350 pounds and suffered from hypertension and was borderline diabetic.

Davis died later at a hospital. No one knows yet if Davis died from the Taser or from his medical condition.

"(Investigators) were never able to let me know exactly what happened to his body," said Jimmy Davis. "Did he fall to the floor? Did he hit the ground? Or what happened? I did not get an answer."

DeKalb Public Safety Director William Miller released this statement concerning Davis' death.

"Officers responded to an EMS call for assistance at 3585 Chamblee Tucker Road. Upon their arrival, officers encountered a male subject who initially complied with officer's commands, but later became combative. The combative behavior continued and after several attempts to physically subdue the suspect, a Taser was deployed.  The man was placed on a stretcher for transport when he became unresponsive. The male was transported to DeKalb Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead."

VIDEO: DeKalb Investigates Two Taser Deaths

Police are also investigating the death of an unidentified woman inside a Clarkston condo complex Friday. Neighbors said the woman, who they also describe as being very large, rampaged through their complex. They told Elliot she broke down doors, chased people around and fought with homeowners.

"I think she doesn't live here," said Jamal Ali, a resident of the complex. Others said they've seen the woman around before but did not know who she was.

Witnesses said DeKalb police used a Taser in an attempt to subdue the woman, but it didn't do much good.They said she was still able to steal a minivan and attempted a getaway. But according to neighbors, the woman crashed the van into a parked pickup and rolled over into the woods. DeKalb police said that case also remains under investigation.

Miller released the following statement in connection with this incident.

"On Friday, May 14, 2010, the DeKalb County 911 center received a "Trouble Unknown" call pertaining to a female, who appeared to be in distress, approaching citizens in the Brannen Hill Condominium complex at 6804 Baynes Hill Drive. Officers responded and found that the female had attempted to "carjack" at least two motorists, and had forcibly entered a condominium in an attempt to rob the residents of the keys to their vehicle. The female ran upon seeing the officers. She entered the vehicle of a resident/visitor and drove away, crashing a short time later into an occupied car in the complex. The officers approached the female again, at which time she became combative. One of the officers deployed his department-issued Taser. The female was eventually subdued. Shortly thereafter, she began showing signs of distress. Emergency medical staff arrived and treated the woman while transporting her to a local hospital. She died a short time later at the hospital."

"The DeKalb County Police Department is investigating both cases and all of the facts surrounding the incidents. Once the investigation into these matters is complete, a full report will be made to the CEO, members of the Board of Commissioners, and the citizens of DeKalb."

Police have said in the past that Tasers give officers a non-lethal option when faced with a dangerous situation.