April 2, 2010

Taser Death: Albert Valencia (Downey, CA)

It happened again. This time an unidentified Downey Police officer pulled out his taser ... shot 50,000 volts of electricity into 31-year Albert Valencia ... and then called on paramedics to rush Valencia to a local hospital ... where he was pronounced dead on March 20, 2010. [SOURCE]

Unidentified officers were called to an LA Fitness gym at 9 a.m., after "patrons reported a male acting strangely and threatening people inside the gym," said a police spokesman.

"As officers arrived, witnesses pointed out the suspect as he was driving out of the parking lot. (The officers) attempted to make contact with the male, but he fled and a short pursuit ensued," the spokesman related.
The police indicate that Albert Valencia pulled out a knife during the pursuit, which came to an end after he pulled over at in a residential neighborhood about three miles from from the gym.

"(The suspect) fled on foot into a rear yard where a physical altercation between the suspect and the officers occurred," police said said. "A Taser was deployed in an effort to help subdue the suspect."
The dumbest thing that the police said? The cause of death was not yet known.

The cause of death is simple ... the police shot this guy with 50,000 volts from a taser. Evidently the Downey Police Department didn't get the memo ... they are only supposed to use the deadly force of their taser guns when the suspect poses an immediate threat. What threat did this guy pose?

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