Mission Statement - De-Spinning the Pro-Taser Propaganda

Yeah right, 'Excited Delirium' my ass...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The primary purpose of this blog is to provide an outlet for my observations and analysis about tasers, taser "associated" deaths, and the behaviour exhibited by the management, employees and minions of Taser International. In general, everything is linked back to external sources, often via previous posts on the same topic, so that readers can fact-check to their heart's content. This blog was started in late-2007 when Canadians were enraged by the taser death of Robert Dziekanski and four others in a short three month period. The cocky attitude exhibited by the Taser International spokespuppet, and his preposterous proposal that Mr. Dziekanski coincidentally died of "excited delirium" at the time of his taser-death, led me to choose the blog name I did and provides my motivation. I have zero financial ties to this issue.



Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Symptoms of "excited delirium" now include robbery and escape?

It's getting weirder and weirder...
...Police say that Freddie Lee Lockett, 30, of Irving told the arresting officers he had used "wet," a street name for PCP-laced marijuana. He died early Sunday, shortly after officers tried to subdue him multiple times with a Taser. It will probably take months before the Dallas County medical examiner determines what caused Lockett's death, but the preliminary indications are that the man's symptoms are consistent with excited delirium, a medical state in which an overdose of adrenaline typically associated with drug use contributes to sudden death. Officers responding to a robbery call in the 2900 block of South Westmoreland Road near West Kiest Boulevard about 11:30 p.m. Saturday spotted Lockett. He matched the description of the robbery suspect, so officers tried to detain him and a scuffle ensued, police said. Lockett fled on foot and continued to resist arrest. Officers used a Taser on him multiple times, though it did not appear to have an effect, police said. Several additional officers responded to the scene, and Lockett was eventually captured. An ambulance was called to check Lockett and his condition worsened, police said. He died at Methodist Dallas Medical Center about 1:05 Sunday morning, police said. ...
[LINK]

So, the guy is perhaps using drugs, allegedly goes out and robs someone, and then attempts to evade capture. As opposed to stacking boxes against doors and being worried by reflections. What's this? A new version of "excited delirium" du jour to fit the situation of another taser associate death?

And what's this about the taser "...did not appear to have an effect..."? What's with THAT? Taser International ASSURES us that tasers directly affect the neuromusclular system, and do not depend on pain. If true, then it should JUST WORK, no matter what else may be going on with drugs and mental state. That was their claim. If they're (obviously) wrong about that, then perhaps their previous claims of taser safety were wrong too.

The Dallas County medical examiner should be sure to get the latest information from Taser International - see [LINK].

No comments: