Teen Dies After Being Tased By Police
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The family of a man who died after being shocked with a police taser told Eyewitness News, he was mentally challenged.
Michelle Rynkiewicz said her cousin Patrick Johnson was 18-years-old but had the mental capacity of a 5-year-old boy. Rynkiewicz added, "I'm upset. I mean he was a young boy and now he's dead."
According to police, at around 12:30 Thursday afternoon, Johnson and another family member called 911. Police responded to reports of a "person with a weapon" at Johnson's residence on the 6900 block of Souder Street in Northeast Philadelphia.
Police said when officers arrived, Johnson confronted them with a stick and at one point even tried to set the stick on fire. Police then called out specially trained officers to try to talk to the 18-year-old and calm him down.
"He apparently had a stick in his hand or something and he wouldn't put it down but you have to remember he has the mind of a 5 year old. So he wouldn't put the stick down and they tased him," Rynkiewicz said.
Police explain Johnson was acting very violently and when Johnson failed to respond to repeated verbal requests to calm down, a taser gun had to be used to subdue Johnson. Johnson was subsequently taken to Nazareth Hospital where he later died.
Rynkiewicz added, "I think that the police used excessive force and it wasn't needed."
Police told Eyewitness News, officers have been called to Johnson's home 14 times this year to settle "disturbances". Family members confirm, Johnson's grandmother called for help whenever Johnson "acted up" and she couldn't bring him under control.
"I feel like it's ridiculous that they tased him. You can by just looking at him tell that he's severely retarded and I believe they should have maced him or tried to tackle him instead of using a taser," Rynkiewicz said.
Police said the case remains under investigation. An autopsy will be performed to determine Johnson's exact cause of death.
Reported By Elizabeth Hur, CBS 3
