The death of a Baltimore County man after police subdued him with a Taser gun will not affect the department?s use of them, police said Monday.
Ryan Lee Meyers was the first suspect to die after 41 uses of the device during the first year of a stun gun pilot program, police spokesman Cpl. Michael Hill said.
Meyers, 40, was shocked with a Taser on Friday after he refused to drop a baseball bat in the Middle River house he shared with his parents, according to the police account.
Meyers? family, according to police, said he was bipolar and took several medications. The state?s medical examiner is investigating the cause and manner of his death, and a determination is not expected for weeks, officials said.
In the meantime, Hill said police will continue to use the devices ? which can fire up to 50,000 volts of electricity up to 15 feet away, according to the manufacturer ? as necessary.
Of the 10,485 reported Taser uses nationwide last year, more than 90 percent were injury-free and less than 1 percent resulted in moderate or severe injuries, according to Taser Inc.
But more than 151 people nationwide have died after a Taser shock since June 2001, according to Amnesty International statistics.
The Harford County Sheriff?s Office has used the weapons for about five years with no major injuries, deaths or reports of misuse, Lt. Jim Eyler police spokesman. Baltimore City also has used Tasers for five years
Carroll and Anne Arundel counties have not decided whether to use Tasers.
Howard County?s police officers were cleared to use them earlier this month.
Howard police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said it was too early to comment on the Baltimore County incident and how it might impact their pilot program.
“It would be speculative at this point,” she said. “We keep ourselves aware of what?s happening.”
