Man dies after cop hits him with Taser 9 times

**AdamGH** · 07-23-2008, 11:31 AM

A police officer shocked a handcuffed Baron "Scooter" Pikes nine times with a Taser after arresting him on a cocaine charge.

He stopped twitching after seven, according to a coroner's report. Soon afterward, Pikes was dead.

Now the officer, since fired, could end up facing criminal charges in Pikes' January death after medical examiners ruled it a homicide.

Dr. Randolph Williams, the Winn Parish coroner, told CNN the 21-year-old sawmill worker was jolted so many times by the 50,000-volt Taser that he might have been dead before the last two shocks were delivered.

Williams ruled Pikes' death a homicide in June after extensive study.

Winn Parish District Attorney Christopher Nevils said he will decide on any charges against the ex-officer, Scott Nugent, once a Louisiana State Police report on the case is complete.

"It's taken several months for this case to even be properly addressed, so one has to wonder, why did it take so long?" said Carol Powell Lexing, a lawyer for the Pikes family. "Obviously, a wrongful death occurred."

Nugent's lawyer, Phillip Terrell, said his client followed proper procedure to subdue a man who outweighed him by 100 pounds. But Williams said Pikes was already handcuffed and on the ground when first hit with the Taser, after the 247-pound suspect was slow to follow police orders to get up.

Winnfield, a sleepy lumber town about 100 miles southeast of Shreveport, Louisiana, is best known as the birthplace of legendary Louisiana governors Huey and Earl Long. It's also about 45 miles northwest of Jena, Louisiana, where a racially charged assault case sparked a September 2007 demonstration by an estimated 15,000 people

One of the teenage defendants in that case, Mychal Bell, is Pikes' first cousin -- and his lawyer was Powell Lexing.

Nugent is white; Pikes was black. His death led to demonstrations that drew several dozen people in Winnfield, where the population of about 15,000 is roughly half African-American.

"The family wants justice," Lexing said. "This is just another example of why it's very important to stay vigilant with these types of cases, on the injustice that's been perpetrated on the disadvantaged."

But Winnfield police Lt. Chuck Curry said race "isn't an issue at all" in the matter.

"This has come down to a police officer that was trying to apprehend a suspect that they had warrants for," he said. "He done what he thought he was trained to do to bring that subject into custody. At some point, something happened with his body that caused him to go into cardiac arrest or whatever."

According to police, Pikes was wanted on a charge of possession of cocaine when police tried to arrest him outside a shopping center January 12.

"He would not stop for the officer," Curry said. "At some point in there, he was Tased to bring him under control, and several hours later, died at the emergency room."

Terrell said Pikes was fighting Nugent "on uneven ground" amid obstructions such as concrete blocks and barbed wire.

"He's fighting, wrestling with an individual who weighs 100 pounds more than him," he said. "His partner had just come back to the police department from triple bypass surgery and could not assist Officer Nugent."

Terrell said his client "used every means possible" to take Pikes into custody before pulling out his Taser, a weapon Winnfield police purchased in 2007.

"The only thing he could have done other than to say, 'OK, we're going to let you go' is to beat him or Tase him. He did the right thing," Terrell said.

Williams, who ruled Pikes' death a homicide in June after extensive study, said Nugent fired his Taser at Pikes six times in less than three minutes -- shots recorded by a computer chip in the weapon's handle. Then officers put Pikes in the back of a cruiser and drove him to their police station -- where Nugent fired a seventh shot, directly against Pikes' chest.

"After he was given that drive stun to the chest, he was pulled out of the car onto the concrete, " Williams told CNN. "He was electroshocked two more times, which two officers noted that he had no neuromuscular response to those last two 50,000-volt electroshocks."

Williams said he had two nationally known forensic pathologists, including former New York city medical examiner Michael Baden, review the case before issuing his conclusions. He said it's possible Nugent was shocking a dead man the last two times he pulled the trigger.

"This fellow was talking in the back seat of the car prior to shot number seven," he said. "From that point on, it becomes questionable [if Pikes was still alive]."

Curry said Pikes told officers he suffered from asthma and had been using PCP and crack cocaine. But Williams said he found no sign of drug use in the autopsy, and no record of asthma in Pikes' medical history.

In the year since Winnfield police received Tasers, officers have used them 14 times, according to police records -- with 12 of the instances involving black suspects. Ten of the 14 incidents involved Nugent, who has no public disciplinary record.

Nugent was suspended after Pikes' death, and Winnfield's City Council voted 3-2 to fire him in May. He is appealing his dismissal, and his lawyer says he followed proper procedures in Pikes' case. He was trained in the use of the Taser by a senior police officer who was present during the incident that led to Pikes' death, Terrell said.

Curry said Taser International, the device's manufacturer, indicates that "multiple Tasings do not affect a person." But he said he could not explain why Pikes was shocked so many times, and said whether Nugent followed proper procedure was "yet to be determined."

But a copy of the Winnfield Police Department's Taser training manual, obtained by CNN, says the device "shall only be deployed in circumstances where it is deemed reasonably necessary to control a dangerous or violent subject." And Williams said regulations regarding the use of Tasers were not followed.

"It violated every aspect -- every single aspect -- of the department's policy about its use," the coroner said.

Winnfield has seen a spate of high-profile corruption cases in recent years. One of Nevils' predecessors as district attorney, Terry Reeves, killed himself amid allegations of embezzlement and extortion. The town's current police chief, Johnny Ray Carpenter, is a convicted drug offender who received a pardon from former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards who himself is now serving a federal prison term for racketeering.

And Carpenter's predecessor, Gleason Nugent -- the father of Pikes' arresting officer -- committed suicide in 2005, after allegations of fraud and vote buying in the race for police chief, an elected position in Winnfield.

Now Nevils is awaiting the state police report on Pikes' death, which will be presented to a grand jury for possible charges against Nugent -- a possibility Curry said would be a blow to the department.

"It's one of these no-win situations," he said. "No matter the outcome, nobody's going to win in this case."

CNN

**inky-e** · 07-23-2008, 11:34 AM

9 times huh? He shoulda just shot him for that matter. Cop should pay!

**Panzerfaust** · 07-23-2008, 11:43 AM

Of course, make it a goddamn race issue. Goddamnit I hate this ****ing place I really do.

How about just focusing on the goddamn facts, the guy was handcuffed and then tasered 8 times. That is what they should be focusing on, noooo instead we will throw in the "disadvantaged" and "race" comments. I;m sorry buit if you have a guy handcuffed and still need to taser him, you are a goddamn pusy who should never even be in the uniform to start with.

**mex83** · 07-23-2008, 11:56 AM

By any chance did this happen in Inglewood, CA lol.... just a few days ago a cop that has previously killed or beat up "criminals" killed a mailman that supposedly was involved in a domestic violence event, yet the guy was alone by himself.

**southmadejd** · 07-23-2008, 12:15 PM

That is such bs man.

**mex83** · 07-23-2008, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by southmadejd

That is such bs man.

Whats more BS is that this cop is still working and was not suspended or nothing.... I think we should all just grab him and

on him then beat the shit out of him with some dumbbells lol.

**StoneGRMI** · 07-23-2008, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by mex83

Whats more BS is that this cop is still working and was not suspended or nothing.... I think we should all just grab him and

on him then beat the shit out of him with some dumbbells lol.

He's fired hence the "Now the officer, since fired, could end up facing criminal charges in Pikes' January death after medical examiners ruled it a homicide." in the article.

It is some BS. Hopefully he doesn't get special treatment being an officer but he likely will.

**Skully44420** · 07-23-2008, 12:49 PM

that is total BS...fvckin cops think they can get away with anything...and i'm sure he probably will get special treatment...and cops wonder why i always have an attitude with them

**mex83** · 07-23-2008, 12:55 PM

I always get profiled where I live... they assume that just because they see a latino shaved headed guy with a goatee and sunglasses in a Chrysler that he is a gangster or has nacs on him. I always get stopped by the nacs lol and they always do a full search of my car and shit one time they even opend my sub box to see if I was hidding something in there WTF shit..... Thats why now I wear a hat everywhere I drive to until I get on the highway then I take off my hat.

DAMN PIGS.....

**darr** · 07-23-2008, 01:01 PM

Scum bags!!!

**mex83** · 07-23-2008, 01:03 PM

LOL looks like nobody likes them cops lol.... whats funny is that I am sure that some of the members in here are cops lol.

**darr** · 07-23-2008, 01:20 PM

There every were!

LOL

**mex83** · 07-23-2008, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by darr

There every were!

LOL

Hell yeah my best friends uncle is a Highway Patrol Officer lol. I do tell him though that I hate him lol.

**IronReload04** · 07-23-2008, 01:43 PM

His partner had just come back to the police department from triple bypass surgery and could not assist Officer Nugent."

okayyyyyyy.........WELL WHY THE **** WAS HE WORKING IN THE FIELD THEN?

complete bullshit. he is handcuffed. I am pretty sure the cops life "was not threatened"....isnt that the reason why they use tasers?

anyways, its little lies and excuses like that about the heart surgery that throw up red flags

**mex83** · 07-23-2008, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by IronReload04

His partner had just come back to the police department from triple bypass surgery and could not assist Officer Nugent."

okayyyyyyy.........WELL WHY THE **** WAS HE WORKING IN THE FIELD THEN?

complete bullshit. he is handcuffed. I am pretty sure the cops life "was not threatened"....isnt that the reason why they use tasers?

anyways, its little lies and excuses like that about the heart surgery that throw up red flags

Wait why would a cop need a triple bypass surgery if he needs that kind of major surgery he shouldnt be in cop field... dunno know that is just my IMO.

**Rugger02** · 07-23-2008, 05:56 PM

enough said

**wilson9d** · 07-23-2008, 05:58 PM

only 9 times? what a *****.

**IronReload04** · 07-23-2008, 06:20 PM

no, no reason do diss cops overall

this is ****en louisanna too people.....not to offend anyone, but not every single part of the country is legit.

***Doc.Sust*** · 07-23-2008, 07:55 PM

louisiana cops are the worst i got thrown in jail and roughed up in new orleans for throwing pizza at people when i was drunk and i didnt try to resist arrest or run.

**DSM4Life** · 07-23-2008, 07:58 PM

Who cares.

There are 3 sides to a story:
Cops
victims
and the True

Guess which one we will never see.

***Doc.Sust*** · 07-23-2008, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by DSM4Life

Who cares.

There are 3 sides to a story:
Cops
victims
and the True

Guess which one we will never see.

very true

**Timm1704** · 07-24-2008, 03:31 AM

the dead guy weighed 247lbs, and outweighed the cop by "over 100 pounds". Why the hell would they have a cop in that situation who is a fooking midget?

**godkilla** · 07-24-2008, 10:47 AM

they sent a 150lbs cop (with a partner who cannot help) to arrest a 250lbs man........fvcking idiots. just a thought, but how about jumping his back(he was in handcuffs...) and slapping on a rnc. you dont have to choke em out, just choke em alittle to let em know whos in charge. and if that doesnt work you could always choke em out, lol.

**zimmy** · 07-24-2008, 12:14 PM

Chokes aren't allowed for police officer...but the dude had cuffs on....quick hit to the back of the knee with a billy club and he's on the ground again...even just a small kick to his knee. Very easy to take down

**Timm1704** · 07-24-2008, 02:42 PM

surely they teach cops how to defend themselves/take people down right?

**godkilla** · 07-24-2008, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by zimmy

Chokes aren't allowed for police officer...but the dude had cuffs on....quick hit to the back of the knee with a billy club and he's on the ground again...even just a small kick to his knee. Very easy to take down

i know they are not aloud, but i think it woulda been a better alternative to 9 shots with a tazer. either way you look at it this cop was in the wrong. who the **** tazers a dead guy!

**Bojangles69** · 07-24-2008, 06:03 PM

I tazed myself once with one of those invisible fence dog collars.
Was drunk and it was a dare lol.

About a 1/2 second after I crossed the line I was on the ground screaming like a scorpion had just crawled up my arse. Fvcking HURT, and I was pretty sauced. So I feel this guys pain, up untill the point he died that is.

**Panzerfaust** · 07-25-2008, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by Timm1704

surely they teach cops how to defend themselves/take people down right?

You would be surprised how shitty Cops are at taking people down. IMO they should train Wrestling in the Academy. Ssimple stuff, double legs, upper body Greco throws, sprawling (in case of someone trying to tackle the Cop).

But I see it taking 6 cops to get one normal size guy down and subdued. wtf?

There are some Cops though that drill fools...