Four Dallas Officers On Administrative Leave After Suspect Death
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) -Four Dallas police officers, including one who deployed his Taser are placed on routine admin leave while the death of Ross Anthony is investigated.
The Special Investigations Unit of the Dallas Police Department is looking into the death of a man after he was Tasered by a police officer.
The incident happened around 7:30 Monday night on N. Jim Miller Road in the Pleasant Grove area.
Witnesses say the suspect was running through traffic on the road, stopping vehicles and banging on doors and windows, including a passing ambulance.
Police were called out for the man's erratic behavior.
When they arrived, witnesses say the man was sitting in a customer's car in the parking lot of the Formosa Express Chinese restaurant.
Police ordered the man out and when he opened the door, police say a struggle ensued.
The officer requested assistance. Police say four officers made contact with the man. One officer, Paul Kessenich, deployed his Taser during the arrest according to Dallas Police.
"Police yelled several times and he finally opened the door. He tried to rush out and police told him to stay down. He didn't stay down and that's why police Tasered him," said Dan Ly, whose family owns the Chinese restaurant.
"He didn't have a weapon, they could have just tackled him," said Guadalupe Delgado, who also witnessed the incident.
Soon after the man was handcuffed, the suspect showed signs of medical distress. Police say paramedics at the scene provided immediate medical attention. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital and pronounced dead.
The Dallas County Medical Examiner's office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Tuesday evening, the Dallas County Medical Examiner identified the man as Ross Anthony, 25.
"They did everything they could, knowing what they knew. They didn't know if he was on drugs, or what the effects of the Taser would be. They didn't pull out a gun and try to shoot him," said Aaron Hulett, who witnessed the struggle.
DPD recently made updates to its Taser use policy.
In November 2014, Chief Brown announced that all officers would undergo mandatory Taser training and certification.
Officers are also allowed to use Tasers under more circumstances now.
A policy update that took effect this June allows DPD officers to use Tasers not only wen a suspect threatens to harm police, but in situations of 'defensive resistance' -- when a suspect makes a physical or overt action to prevent being detained or arrested.
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