Investigators found no criminal wrongdoing by Erlanger police officers when they used a Taser on a patient who later died, a Chattanooga police officer said Monday.
Lt. Tim Carroll, head of major crimes for the police department, said Detective Justin Kilgore's report determined that the case should be cleared based on the investigation.
"We investigated it as a criminal matter, but we found no criminal intent on behalf of the officers, so we're closing it out administratively," Lt. Carroll said.
Edward Buckner died Nov. 27, 2009, shortly after he was stunned with a Taser by an Erlanger security officer. Hamilton County Medical Examiner Dr. Frank King ruled the death natural, caused by a blood clot in Mr. Buckner's lungs.
At the time of his death, Mr. Buckner, who was a patient at the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, was being treated for dehydration developed from diabetes at Erlanger, according to newspaper archives. He was being released from the hospital when he started fighting with hospital police, officials said.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the investigation of Mr. Buckner's death and spokeswoman Kristin Helm said the agency had not completed its work but would soon turn over their findings to Hamilton County District Attorney Bill Cox.
Mr. Cox could not be reached for comment.
The Times Free Press could not obtain a copy of the detective's report in time for publication.