Taser stun gun officially linked to death of Indiana man

By Vince Mancini

Published on August 02, 2005

54-year-old Ronald Hasse received a five second and a subsequent 57-second charge from the device, a medical examiner said Thursday.

According to police, the Taser was employed when Hasse tried to kick and bite officers who tried to restrain him on February 12 at a Chicago apartment building. He also threatened to infect paramedics at the scene with HIV, according to police.

Electrocution was the primary cause of death, but Hasse's use of methamphetamine was a contributing cause. His autopsy found .55 micrograms of meth per milileter in his blood, slightly higher than what is considered a lethal level. However, the medical examiner said the drug most likely wouldn't have killed Hasse in the absence of jolts from the stun gun.

Taser International, manufacturer of the stun gun, disputed the conclusions.

Chicago Police Superintendent Phil Cline halted the distribution of 200 additional Tasers after Hasse's death, although he did not halt the use of Tasers altogether.

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