Nude man dies after Tasering in Lakewood
By Kelly Puente, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/15/2009 10:17:06 PM PST
LAKEWOOD - A man running naked through a Lakewood neighborhood died after sheriff's deputies shocked him with a Taser gun, authorities said Sunday.
Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Art Spencer said Lakewood deputies responded to a disturbance call in the 5700 block of Silva Street at 10:15 p.m. Saturday.
Spencer said deputies found a "very large" man running naked in the street and acting irrationally. Deputies tried to calm the man but he remained belligerent, Spencer said.
When he advanced at deputies in a threatening manner, Spencer said deputies used pepper spray and at least one Taser gun to subdue him.
Shortly after the man was handcuffed, deputies realized he was not breathing and began to administer CPR, Spencer said. The man, whose identity has not been released, was pronounced dead at a hospital.
No deputies were injured, Spencer said, adding that the incident is under investigation. Deputies have not said how many Taser guns were used. No further information on the incident was available Sunday.
Residents in the suburban neighborhood said the evening quiet was suddenly broken Saturday night when a nude man began wandering down the street, banging on doors and cars.
Neighbors Norma Ramirez and Nancy Wright were in their homes when they heard police sirens and a helicopter.
Wright said she opened her door to a flood of more than two dozen sheriff's deputies on her street. Neighbors
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gathered outside while authorities set up yellow crime scene tape in front of three houses, Wright said.
"(Deputies) told us to go back inside our homes, but we just kind of stepped back a little," Wright said.
The women said they heard from other neighbors that a man had been wandering down the street and darted through a gate into someone's backyard after police arrived.
Ramirez said she heard a deputy shout, "Get me another Taser!" followed by another deputy shouting, "We need CPR!"
Paramedics arrived shortly after, she said.
Wright and Ramirez said they did not know if the man was a neighbor, or someone who had wandered into the area.
"It's scary," Wright said. "You don't see things like this in our neighborhood."
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Well now you do, you Lakewood NIMBYnos!
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