Georgia Man Dies After Being Tasered During Arrest

The death of a Georgia man after he was Tasered and arrested outside at an Alabama nightspot raises questions about what happened and how law enforcement officials treated the man.

Johnnie Kamahi Warren, 43, of Forest Park, Ga., died early Monday morning at a Dothan hospital after he struggled with bar staff, was Tasered “at least twice” by a Houston County Sheriff’s deputy, and was then handcuffed and detained by the deputy and three to four Dothan police officers, according to an account of the incident in the Dothan Eagle.

As police officers and the deputy struggled to handcuff Warren, “he started going in and out of consciousness,” the newspaper says.  Members of the Dothan Fire Department administered CPR, and Warren was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Police involvement in the ultimately fatal incident began with a report of a drunk and disorderly person at Houligans, a bar on the Montgomery Highway northeast of Dothan, after midnight Monday. A Sheriff’s deputy responded first, and said he saw three men struggling with what appeared to be an intoxicated patron on the ground outside the business.

The deputy deployed his Taser in an effort to help get the man under control. A statement from the Dothan Police Department said the deputy fired his Taser at least twice as Warren continued to be combative.

The deputy is now on administrative leave as Warren’s death is investigated.

As a May 2011 U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) study explained, Tasers produce 50,000 volts of electricity that stuns and temporarily disables people by causing involuntary muscle contractions.

Many law enforcement agencies use stun guns to incapacitate someone who poses a threat, but the use of stun guns has been controversial. Police have been accused of using the weapons too quickly and too often, and their use has led to several in-custody deaths.

More than 200 Americans have died after being shocked by Tasers, according to the DOJ study.

Proper use of Tasers on adults is safe in most instances, the DOJ says, but, “Abnormal mental status in a combative or resistive subject, sometimes called ‘excited delirium,’ may be associated with a risk for sudden death. This should be treated as a medical emergency.”

The study also says, “A preliminary review of deaths following (stun gun) exposure found that many are associated with continuous or repeated shocks.”

The Atlanta wrongful death attorneys of Millar & Mixon recognize that wrongful death claims based on police conduct can be complex. But it is proper to raise questions whenever an unnatural death occurs.

Millar & Mixon’s attorneys are experienced in handling wrongful death cases and can help families facing the difficult time of loss and recovery after an unexpected death.

If you have had an unexplained death in your family that you are concerned about, contact Millar & Mixon today at 770-477-6360 or info@millarandmixon.com. Our initial consultation is free, and we are serious about seeking justice for victims of wrongful deaths.