News

Naked 'irrational' driver dies after deputies fire Taser

By Bill Moss, Published: November 8, 2016

An "extremely irrational and non-compliant" motorist who emerged naked from a wrecked car on Howard Gap Road early today was shot by a Taser and later died, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

The sheriff's office received a call at 1:09 a.m. reporting a motor vehicle collision involving multiple parked cars at an apartment complex on Howard Gap Road. When deputies arrived about five minutes later they found the driver of the wrecked vehicle naked in the middle of Howard Gap Road "acting extremely irrational and non-compliant," Maj. Frank Stout said.

As the deputies attempted to take the driver into custody he charged at the officers, who fired the stun gun. "After the Taser was deployed and the driver brought under control, emergency service workers began evaluating the driver for any possible injuries. During the medical evaluation, the driver went into full arrest and was transported immediately to Park Ridge Hospital. Attempts to revive the driver were unsuccessful."

The name of the driver is was withheld pending notification of the next of kin. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the North Carolina SBI are investigating the incident, Stout said.