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State Police Probe Death of Connecticut Man Struck With Taser

TASER International
Since 2005, 17 individuals have died in Connecticut after they were hit with Tasers.

Connecticut state police are investigating the death of a 26-year-old man who died after a Hartford police officer used a Taser to subdue him when he allegedly became combative during a medical assistance call.

Police said a mobile crisis team and EMS personnel responded to a home on Kelsey Street at about 8:30 p.m. Friday for reported a medical-psychological disturbance involving a 400-pound person.

They said Matthew Russo became violent with the emergency responders and was struck with the electric stun gun, then given a sedative.

Police said Russo began to have difficulty breathing and was given immediate medical aid. He was taken to Hartford Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Russo is the 17th individual to have died in Connecticut after being hit with a stun gun since 2005. In early June, medical examiners ruled the 16th death, of a Branford man stunned during schizophrenic episode, a homicide, though it has yet to be determine if the use of force was justified.To date, all investigations into deaths following Taser use have found the use of force to be justified. 

Connecticut lawmakers passed legislation this year requiring law enforcement officers to file a "use of force" report following use of a stun gun. This legislation is the first of its kind in the nation. 

State police took over the latest investigation early Saturday. An autopsy is being conducted by to determine the cause and manner of Russo's death.

This report includes information from the Associated Press. 

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