Las Vegas NowTaser Death Investigation Continues

Taser Death Investigation Continues

(Feb. 23) -- A Las Vegas man is dead after a scuffle with police that involved a taser gun. While police do not believe the taser gun caused the man's death, his family says they're convinced it's a case of excessive force. Take a closer look at what happened and just how often police officers use taser guns.

Metro officers have been using taser guns since August 2003. The goal is to reduce the number of injuries for officers and suspects. But one family says it shouldn't have been used and they say it may have been a factor in costing their son his life.

"Why? Why did they hurt my child like that?" Joyce Charleston still can't believe her son is dead. William Lomax died after a scuffle with security guards and police Friday night. His sister, Jean Charleston, said, "That's my brother. I love him and he'll be truly missed."

Police say they were forced to use a taser gun several times against Lomax who they believe was under the influence of drugs. Lomax later died at a local hospital.

Metro Captain Jim Owens told Eyewitness News, "It's been used so many times effectively. We certainly don't have any desires to stop using the taser. It has prevented and will continue to prevent many more accidents than it ever causes.

The tasers send out electrical shock which debilitates a suspect without any long-lasting effects. "We'd like to reduce the number of injuries not only to the public when the officer is forced to use force, but also to the officer," Captain Owens continued.

From August to February, Metro officers used taser guns 128 times. 14 suspects were injured and required hospitalization and 53 suspects needed some type of first aid. Metro says there were no serious injuries.

The North Las Vegas Police department is convinced that they are such a great idea that they've ordered a taser gun for every officer. officer jac gravatt north "A lot of time you're with someone who is thinking about becoming violent. I'll pull the taser out to let them know it's an option and on their own they will decide not to become physically agressive," explained NLV police officer Jacqueline Gravatt.

According to Taser, the company that makes the device, 2,900 police agencies use taser guns and it has reduced police use of lethal force by 78-percent.

Metro doesn't have its officers use tasers on each other during training because several officers fell after they were jolted and were injured. Metro says it can't afford to take officers off the streets. The North Las Vegas Police department gives its officers the option to experience being tazed.  Metro is waiting for the coroner's results to come back for the official cause of William Lomax's death. That will take several weeks.