A man died after police used a stun gun on him when he tried to assault rescue personnel trying to extract him from a crashed car, according to Montgomery County police. Police said 40-year-old Delric T. East was in a crash on Route 29 near Briggs Chaney Road at about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday. He was driving a 1993 Cadillac when it struck a barrier separating Route 29’s north and southbound lanes.
East, of Silver Spring, was trapped in the vehicle and began assaulting rescue personnel who tried to help him, police said. Police officers responded and used a stun gun when he continued to resist help.
Officer Janelle Smith, a police spokeswoman, said East was taken to Suburban Hospital for treatment of injuries he suffered in the crash. He died at the hospital shortly before 11:40 p.m.
Police didn’t release the nature of East’s injuries from the crash, saying that would be part of a medical examiner’s report.
The medical examiner will determine East’s cause and manner of death.
Police said it’s not known why East began assaulting the officers who were trying to free him from the vehicle, though he is believed to have been high on PCP at the time.
Police identified the officers involved in the stun gun incident as Officer David Courtemanche, who has been on the force for six years; Officer Michael Putman, who has been with the department for nine years; Officer Eric Hammelton, who has spent eight years on the force; and Sgt. Jeffrey Divers, a 19-year veteran. They were all assigned to the Third District’s patrol unit.
As is routine after a shooting, the officers have been placed on administrative leave.
Authorities did not identify the officer who fired the stun gun. Officer Howard Hersh, a police spokesman, said the incident is being investigated and the department is “trying to be sure.”
Police said officers found PCP in the car, and a 38-year-old woman who was a passenger in the vehicle told authorities that East had ingested PCP before the crash. The woman was not injured.
Police say anyone with information about the incident can call 240-773-5070.
