Burglary Suspect Dies After DeLand Police Use Stun Gun

DELAND, Fla.- A burglary suspect resisting an arrest attempt died after being hit three times with Taser stun guns, police said Monday. Officials said Willie Towns, 30, stopped breathing en route to a hospital Sunday night, Chief Edward J. Overman said. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. Police said Towns told them he had been using cocaine earlier Sunday. "The actual time he had trouble breathing ... was maybe 10 minutes away from the Taser shot," Overman said. Police said they first used pepper spray on the suspect, then used stun guns after he struggled with officers. "He fought pretty hard," Overman said. "He has superhuman strength, as I like to call it." DeLand officers were issued Tasers in August, and have used the weapons on 10 people.

(Local 6 article here)