Goodyear Worker Dies after Being Tased

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Posted: 8:24 PM Mar 31, 2008
Last Updated: 8:24 PM Mar 31, 2008
Reporter: 13 News

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The Shawnee County Sheriff's Office confirmed Monday it is investigating the death of a Goodyear employee who died after being tased by deputies.

The Sheriff's Office said it was called to the Goodyear plant at about 11:17 pm Saturday. Goodyear security officers told deputies they were trying to keep an employee from leaving the plant because they thought he was unable to safely drive.

The employee resisted officials and a deputy tased the man, who then became unresponsive. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.

The coroner's office is investigating to determine the cause of death.

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Posted by: R.I.P.MR.HAAKE,HARD WORKING GY M! Location: IN HEAVEN! on Apr 18, 2008 at 10:15 AM
bullshi~~ officers~ ha! that A JOKE!! IF THE TASE HAD NOT HAD HAPPENED THE MAN COULD HAVE BEEN GOING BACK TO WORK AS WE SPEAK! U MUST NOT BEA VERY GOOD MEDICAL PERSONAL,BECAUSE A NY PERSON WITH BLOOD SUAGR THAT IS 500 OR SO CAN DIE IF NOT HAVING INSULIN.FACE IT,MR.THINK U KNOW IT ALL POOTYMAN,THE TASER 3 TIMES KILLED THE MAN. HE WASNT A CRIMINAL,GO PICK ON THE DRUG DEALERS AND THE CRIMINALS ON THE STREET THAT ARE HARMING PEOPLE. NOT PICK ON A HARD WORKING MAN! JUST REMEMBER YOUR WAGES ARE BEING PAID FROM THE TAXES OF THIS DEAD MAN. PUT THAT IN UR PIPE AND SMOKE IT POTTYMAN.COLLEGE KIDS COME OUT AND DONT KNOW SHI~,I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THEY GRADUATED/ MAYBE A CRACKER JAX BOX CERTIFICATE.EMT DONT KNOW SHI~ EITHER. HEART PROBLEM,DIABETIC,BEING TASED 3 TIMES IS DEATH. I DONT GIVE A DAMN HOW PROTOCOL,YOU SHOULD HAD LEFT THE MAN ALONE! GET A REAL DOCTOR IN THE ER TO ATTEND TO THIS MAN HEALTH,BUT IT WAS TO LATE BECAUSE OF THE TASEMENT. SIMPLE AS THAT! I WILLBELEIVE NOTHING ELSE!NO EXCU

Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Apr 9, 2008 at 02:44 PM
the coroners report is out, he died because he couldnt breathe while face down with someone sitting on him while they handcuffed him. is it really necessary to use this much force on an old guy with diabetes and heart trouble after tasing him 3 times?

Posted by: Bad Decision Location: Topeka on Apr 9, 2008 at 01:30 PM
I have family & friends that work at Goodyear & from what I gather the employees of Goodyear were more concerned for this gentlemen than Goodyear management (do you not keep records on medical issues for employees or contact numbers?)or the Sheriff/Police? My heart goes out to the family, friends & the workers of Goodyear who tried. Yes I am upset the way the officer handled this. A gentlemen, UNARMED, couldn't move his vehicle, not hurting anyone, confused, then tased & hand cuffed? I do understand officers are put out in more dangerous situations now days but sometimes it just takes common sense. No I'm not being harsh on the "poor deputies" I just feel a bad decision was made on the officers part & instead of the officer standing up taking responsibility for their actions it's easier to try to justify them. We can argue this all day but it comes down to a father, son, husband lost his life because of why? Can't help thinking a doctor should have made this call not an officer.

Posted by: Robert Location: Arkansas City,KS. on Apr 8, 2008 at 12:18 PM
The main reason anyone is being "harsh",on the poor-deputies,is because,THIS WAS WRONG!,and alot of people just feel that these deputies picked the wrong careers,and no autopsy report is going to change what has already happened!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Topeka on Apr 6, 2008 at 04:52 PM
First, I am glad that everyone who is making such harsh comments towards the officers have been in that exact situation and know the exact proper thing to do. Furthermore, I am also glad to see that everyone is also aware of the facts on tasers and staffing of lawenforcement. Yeah, not so much here. It would seem like a good idea to wait for the autopsy, and to understand that you have no flipping clue as to what all of the circumstances were. I am law enforcement, I do have a college degree and I am an EMT, but without knowing the exact circumstances, I still can't say what I would have done. Perhaps I would not have tased him, but I also firmly believe that the tasing was not the reason the man has died. If you have some of the the best AMR staff on hand I know, and the man still isn't revived, well unforturnately I doubt he was going to make it period. I am glad that they didn't walk away and let him drive unsafely. I pray for his family and for the officers.

Posted by: Robert Location: Arkansas city,KS. on Apr 4, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Back to doing a job properly,how about not being lazy,and using your hands for more than calling for back-up.That`s the main problem with this country,everybody is always looking for a quick fix,for a situation,instead of doing alittle hard work,and DOING their jobs, RIGHT!

Posted by: JC Location: Topeka on Apr 4, 2008 at 08:13 AM
A black jack is a non lethal means of force too, would you recommend using it on him instead.

Posted by: Robert Location: Arkansas City,KS on Apr 4, 2008 at 05:26 AM
Not surprising,not even a crime committed,a real worker,at a real job,you know where you acually do some manual labor,and he has a medical problem,and gets tased for his troubles,would be nice,if these officers out there would be required to have some college with these jobs,such as an ethics course.

Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Apr 3, 2008 at 10:10 AM
X cop says a taser is not deadly force, but many deaths have occured due to tasering. how many more are going to die before they are really tested? arent they just a short cut or easy way out for the "officers" to not have to exersize judgement? just shoot or tase first and ask questions later. after all, whats a little torture between friends?

Posted by: Lucinda Location: Topeka on Apr 2, 2008 at 05:16 PM
I wonder how "ticked off" knows he didn't have his car keys. If the man's car was blocked in, and if he didn't have his keys nor any weapons on him, to whom was he a danger except to himself? I understand the good in trying to subdue someone who is a danger to himself but not through extreme means such as tasing, shooting, or pepper spraying. It's a matter of judgment and to me it's not the best judgment to do it. I suspect most citizens would agree on that. I imagine the man would have worn himself out physically in protest if everyone had simply sat in their cars or stood back and waited. Patience can be a blessing sometimes.

Posted by: WOW Location: Topeka on Apr 2, 2008 at 01:40 PM
please do research before you start blaming our officers. You weren't there and you have misinformation on tasers. Thanks Ex Cop for providing researched information!!! If you could do their jobs better have at it....become an office. Until then dont be so judgemental and narrow minded! Let us all pray for the family and offer support there!

Posted by: me Location: kansas on Apr 2, 2008 at 11:38 AM
very interesting, could it have been a diabetic reaction?sometimes they get combative at these times. was he in a safety sensitive job at goodyear...that might be a little serious

Posted by: ticked off on Apr 2, 2008 at 01:20 AM
I think its really horrible this happened to a man who was in his car and confused. He did not even have his keys and they had him blocked in. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Posted by: Roger Location: Topeka on Apr 1, 2008 at 09:45 PM
Are the Topeka Police and Shawnee County Sheriff's department trying to kill all of us? Put your @$%^# guns away and start doing your job. You dont have to shot us or tase us to death to give us a ticket. This was a bad mistake on behalf of all law enforcement and security personel. Fire both of them. Let's save the lives of the next people these "peace officers" would tase or shoot. God be with the family of this man. HE WAS MURDERD!

Posted by: Lucinda Location: Topeka on Apr 1, 2008 at 05:41 PM
I don't like to think that injured people are shot, pepper sprayed, or tasered just because they want to drive themselves home. It wasn't a work related injury, meaning he probably drove himself to work. Even if he hadn't died I wonder if he should have been tasered for wanting to drive himself home. If his car was there then he drove himself to work meaning he wasn't totally disabled. I'll be interested in finding out what his employer related to the police when they called them. They may bear some of the blame. But until we know I will stay neutral. Nevertheless this is very troubling.

Posted by: confusion on Apr 1, 2008 at 04:21 PM
I have many friends and family that work there. I have been told it was a medical condition and other workers tried to get him to go to a hospital. This is truely tragic. My heart goes out to the family.

Posted by: Ex Cop Location: Topeka Area on Apr 1, 2008 at 01:07 PM
A Taser is not considered "Deadly Force". A person can die after you chase them on foot, and they could die of a Heart Attack. Does this make running deadly force? Of Course Not! The Taser is a non lethal tool that has reduced officer and suspect injuries far more than the very few who die after being tased. All recorded Taser Related Deaths have been ruled as the suspect had a pre-existing condition that was the "REAL REASON" for the cause of death. A taser is much safer than OC Pepper Spray or a Baton striking the persons body.

Posted by: Sick and Tired on Apr 1, 2008 at 11:01 AM
First the Topeka Police now the Sheriffs Department. Why do these officers think deadly force is nessesary in every instance. Has "shoot 'em first and ask questions later" taken over as the correct thing to do?

Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Apr 1, 2008 at 10:23 AM
what was he being punished for? what did he do to be tortured? dont forget "tasers are safe"

Posted by: Goodyear Employee Location: Topeka on Apr 1, 2008 at 01:55 AM
The employee had a head injury that he sustained at home the night before. He was acting loopy throughout his shift. He denied medical attention, and simply wanted to leave. There were several way to prevent him from leaving, none of which included tasing!!!

Posted by: innocent Location: ks on Apr 1, 2008 at 12:35 AM
man was having a heart attack. sheriff tazed him 3 times in his leg. pulled him from his truck, handcuffed him put his knee in his back and threw him on the ground.

Posted by: JC Location: NE Kansas on Apr 1, 2008 at 12:27 AM
There was a time when police said; "Stop, or I will shoot!" Not it is; Please don't run, or I might have to chase you for a long while, and maybe I will catch you. It's just rediculous.

Posted by: Former Cop Location: Topeka Area on Mar 31, 2008 at 08:47 PM
I am curious as to why they thought he was unsafe to drive. Was it intoxication? If it was a medical condition, I would estimate that it might have been enhanced by the tasing. I dont think that the taser by itself was the cause. However, the deputies may not have known it was a medical condition. The taser is by far the safer alternative to a bullet or OC Pepper Spray.