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Texas Rangers and Temple PD are investigating use of force after an erratic suspect was tasered four times during an altercation with officers

Texas Rangers and Temple PD are investigating use of force after an erratic suspect was tasered four times during an altercation with officers

TEMPLE, Texas (KWTX) – The Texas Rangers and the Temple Police Department are investigating a police officer’s use of force on Oct. 3 following the death of a suspect.

On October 3, at approximately 12:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 2400 block of S 13th Street to conduct a welfare check after a dispatcher noticed “screaming” and stated the caller was “out of breath.”

The caller reported that someone was vandalizing his house, police said, and confirmed that a physical altercation had occurred.

The caller further stated that a person had been there earlier in the day and was acting erratically, possibly under the influence of narcotics.

The caller also said the suspect “left all the food on the floor and spilled the milk all over the floor.”

The first officer arrived around 12:18 p.m. and contacted the caller, who was crying and said the suspect was “freaking out in my house.”

The first officer contacted the suspect at approximately 12:19 p.m., while a second officer arrived at the residence behind the first officer.

The first officer announced “Temple PD” and the suspect was observed in the kitchen removing items from the refrigerator. The first responding officer pointed his Taser at the suspect and ordered him to stop his actions.

The second officer told the suspect that “we are here to help you.”

“The suspect drank various liquids such as dish soap, oil and other liquids,” police said, adding that the person was “unintelligible.”

At around 12:20 p.m., the officer gave the suspect an audible warning with the Taser bow and asked him to stop. The suspect sat in front of the refrigerator and grabbed something to drink.

The first officer said, “I can’t allow that,” and deployed the Taser, which appeared to have minimal impact on the subject as the suspect continued to wander.

Officers ordered the suspect to stop and turn onto his stomach. The suspect turned toward the officers and tried again to drink the object in his hand.

The officer then used the Taser a second time. “The suspect was again not completely incapacitated and the second officer attempted to lend a hand,” police wrote.

The suspect continued to resist, “flailing” and ignoring orders to stand down.

Police said the first officer fired a third Taser cycle and the second officer attempted to control the suspect’s arm. Both officers reportedly gave the command to turn around, but “the suspect continued to thrash and resist officers,” police said.

The suspect then began reaching into the refrigerator again and the first officer warned the suspect that he would be tasered again while both officers continued to tell the suspect to stop and turn onto his stomach.

“Officers continued to struggle to take the suspect into custody. Officers attempted to get the suspect’s left arm behind his back and he continued to struggle with the upper half of his body in the refrigerator,” police said. “The suspect was advised that this was his final warning and that he would be tasered again.”

At approximately 12:22 p.m., a fourth Taser cycle was initiated, but the suspect again continued to struggle and did not comply with commands.

“The suspect then went limp and the second officer advised he became unconscious. The officers took him out of the refrigerator and handcuffed the suspect.

One of the officers stated, “He’s breathing,” and the officers turned the suspect on his side and continued to attempt to rouse the suspect by rubbing his sternum and calling emergency medical services.

At about 12:23 p.m., officials said he was not breathing. Officers began life-saving treatment, administering CPR and administering Narcan.

The caller told officers at the scene that the suspect claimed to have spent the caller’s money to purchase crack cocaine before returning to the apartment and was “exhibiting strange and unusual behavior.” .

The caller further stated that before calling the police, he tried to forcibly evict the person from their apartment.

Justice of the Peace Reed gave the time of death as 12:59 p.m. and ordered an autopsy.

Due to the suspect’s death, the Temple Police Department called the Texas Rangers to investigate the incident.

As standard practice, the officer who used the Taser in this incident was placed on paid administrative leave.

An internal investigation into the incident has been ordered to “fully understand the timing and sequence of events and to fully understand the incident,” police said.

This is an active investigation and no further information will be released, police said.

Anyone with information should contact the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477, where callers can report anonymously. Tips can also be submitted anonymously at bellcountycrimestoppers.com.

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