Los Angeles authorities investigate Taser gun death www.chinaview.cn 2008-09-05 08:21:33 Print LOS ANGELES, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Los Angeles authorities launched an investigation on Thursday into the death of a Los Angeles man who stopped breathing after being shot with a Taser gun.

    Police said Andy Tran, 32, was shot in the thigh on Wednesday when police were attempting to detain him. The victim, a mentally ill man, was pronounced dead at a hospital later. Police were called on Wednesday to a house in Garden Grove, Los Angeles on a report that a mentally disturbed man, who was possibly armed with weapons and known to be violent, was acting erratic, said Garden Grove police Lt. Dennis Ellsworth. When they arrived, Tran was attempting to climb into a window of a house where he lived, and police had to use a stun gun to subdue him, Ellsworth said. Tran stopped breathing not long after being shot and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Ellsworth said. Ellsworth said "I think there was a struggle with the suspect." He said Garden Grove officers "have strict training on use of force" and the use of a Taser in this situation fell under policy. Although Tasers were originally proposed as alternatives to lethal force, they have entered routine use as a way to incapacitate suspects or as a "pain compliance" method at times when the use of firearms would not be justifiable. The use of Tasers has become controversial following instances of Taser use which have resulted in injury and death. The American Civil Liberties Union alleges that, since 1999, hundreds of people have died in the United States and Canada after being shocked with Tasers by police officers. Received on Thu Sep 4 23:24:06 2008