Ex-M.E.: Drugs 'not contributing factor' in man's death

EAST POINT, Ga. — The former medical examiner of Fulton County testified at the trial of two former East Point police officers charged with murder in the stun gun-related death of a handcuffed man.

Gregory Towns Jr. was arrested following a foot chase in April 2014 on allegations he assaulted his girlfriend.

When Towns, 24, failed to comply with orders to get up and walk to a patrol car, the officers allegedly fired their Tasers in stun gun mode three times.

"It was fairly consistently relayed to me, after the use of the last stun, he slumped forward and was unresponsive," said Dr. Melissa Pasquale.

Pasquale told the jury Thursday that the contributing factors in Towns’ death included cardiovascular disease, an enlarged heart, sickle cell disorder and conductive electrical stimulation.

"When the EMS arrived, he had no breathing, no pulse and was essentially dead," Pasquale said.

Pasquale said Towns had Xanax and marijuana in his system, but the drugs weren’t a contributing factor to his death.

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An attorney for one of the accused officers questioned the conclusions of the medical examiner, who acknowledge Towns’ heart condition was the main factor in his death.

In earlier testimony, a former officer who witnessed the stun gun incident testified that she didn't believe it was necessary for the accused officers to use their stun guns on Towns.

Defense attorneys contend the accused former officers had the right to use their stun guns, did not intend to injure Towns and had no prior knowledge of his pre-existing medical problems.

Cox Media Group