Death of man stunned while in custody ruled a homicide

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne has obtained new details about a death investigation involving a man stunned by a Taser while in police custody.
 
Records said he was handcuffed as he was repeatedly stunned and there are several other potentially explosive allegations.
 
An East Point Police lieutenant confirms two officers were still on administrative leave with pay as of early Tuesday afternoon in connection with Gregory Towns' death in April.

A Fulton County medical examiner's investigator confirmed the manner of death has been ruled a homicide.
 
"There are different titles with respect to homicide. There can be justified homicide," said East Point Lt. Cliff Chandler.
 
A GBI report has now been turned over to Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard and East Point Police Chief Woodrow Blue.

According to Winne's source, a GBI investigation determined:

Towns was stunned by a Taser at least three times, even though he told East Point Police he was tired and asked them to let him catch his breath before standing up.

According to Winne's source, the report said Towns handcuffed at the time he was stunned each time and though he had earlier led police on a foot chase after a domestic incident, Towns was not resisting when he was stunned with the Taser.
 
Police officer statements indicate he was stunned because he would not stand up at the direction of officers – not because of any combativeness.
 
David Fife said he's handled a number of police brutality cases on both sides.
 
"If the allegations are true, certainly you have a situation where you would not expect the officers to have qualified immunity for these type acts," he said.

WSBTV