|
|
| Death at jail probed |
| By The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |
| Published: 10/06/2003 |
|
An inmate who bit off part of a sheriff's deputy's ear died after the struggle at the Gwinnett County jail, authorities said. Ray Charles Austin never regained consciousness after the incident Wednesday, said Stacey Kelley, spokeswoman for the sheriff's department. Austin was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center, where he died Friday night, Kelley said. An autopsy by the medical examiner's office could not determine the cause of death, and test results are pending, said Ted Bailey, a forensic examiner. During the incident, the jail staff used an electric shock device, called a tazer, to subdue Austin. Sheriff Butch Conway said his deputies did not violate any departmental policies. "The use of force appears to be appropriate," Conway said. He said he "would be surprised to see it had anything to do with the use of the tazer." Gwinnett police detectives will investigate the incident to see if it rises to the level of "criminal negligence," said Cpl. Dan Huggins, police spokesman. The incident began when Austin was put into a maximum security cell for disciplinary problems, Kelley said. Austin, 25, began banging on the cell door. Authorities determined that he needed medication, Kelley said. A nurse, accompanied by four deputies, entered the cell, and a scuffle ensued in which Austin bit off a piece of Sgt. Derek Locklear's ear. Austin was then shocked at least three times with a tazer, Kelley said. Austin was restrained and given 10 milligrams of Haldol, a tranquilizer, and 2 milligrams of Ativan, an anti-anxiety drug. Steve Tuttle, a spokesman for the Arizona-based Taser Inc., defended the weapon. "We've seen 25 in-custody deaths since 1999 in which the tazer has been used," Tuttle said. "The tazer has been cleared in every case." The damaged portion of Locklear's ear was sewn back on. Austin had been jailed on a charge of obstruction of a police officer. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think