November 12, 2005 - Taser Blamed in Death

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The family of an Indiana man who had a lethal level of methamphetamine in his system and was exposed to 57 seconds of exposure to Taser electrocution has filed a lawsuit claiming the manufacturer and the Police Department are responsible for his death. For the first time since its rapid and controversial climb to popularity, Taser has been determined by a medical examiner to have been the cause of the death of a victim.  Police used a Taser on Ronald Hasse after they responded to a complaint about a man out of control at a Lake View apartment.

Hasse had gone there to see two men he knew. Witnesses said he became enraged when he was asked to leave. When police arrived on the scene, Hasse attacked and threatened to infect them with HIV. After three verbal warnings to calm down, officers used a Taser to restrain him.

Investigators later determined Hasse had been hit with two bursts of electricity. The first was five seconds long, the next 57 seconds. Hasse, 54, was pronounced dead 90 minutes later.

The Cook County medical examiner ruled Hasse's death a homicide and said electrocution was the primary cause of death.

Investigators said Hasse had a lethal level of methamphetamine in his system, but the level wouldn't have killed him if not for the electrocution from the Taser.

The lawsuit says the police use of "deadly force" against Hasse "was unnecessary and excessive" because he "was not armed and did not pose a threat of serious injury."

Neither Hasse's attorney nor a spokesman for Taser International returned calls seeking comment. His family's lawsuit is the latest of dozens to be filed against the Arizona-based firm.

On Thursday, police in Pueblo, Colo., settled a similar lawsuit for $275,000. That same day, a similar Texas suit was dismissed. Also Thursday, Taser issued a release touting the dismissal of seven lawsuits filed against it since 2003.

When Hasse died, he was awaiting trial in Indiana on charges of unlawful transportation of a body and failure to report a death.

Sources in the Lake County, Ind., sheriff's department said Hasse's sister, Julie Hasse, who is among those seeking damages in Friday's lawsuit, provided the tips to help solve that case.