Kentucky man dies after struggle with police who tased him

LOUISA, Ky. -- A man died after a confrontation with officers who used a stun gun on him at a police department in eastern Kentucky, state police said.

Billy J. Collins, 56, became combative at the Louisa Police Department after his arrest Friday and struck Sgt. Steven Wilburn multiple times before fleeing into a foyer, where he barricaded himself, according to a Kentucky State Police statement.

Collins was hit twice with a stun gun but continued to be combative, the statement said. Officers had a physical confrontation with him that included "strikes with closed empty hands" and with agency-issued batons before bringing him under control, police said.

Collins was then restrained and put in a sitting position when he began showing signs of a medical emergency, police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Results of an autopsy weren't released, but police said they are reviewing Collins' prior medical issues as part of their investigation. The preliminary investigation has found no criminal activity on the part of officers, police said.

Louisa Police Chief Greg A. Fugitt said the department is cooperating fully with the state police investigation. He referred other questions about the case to Kentucky State Police.

A state police spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

According to CBS affiliate WYMT, police said the incident started when a police officer who was attending the Lawrence County High School graduation noticed a car, driven by Collins, drive off the road.

Collins allegedly began yelling and cursing at people at the graduation, the station reported, before he was arrested.