Vegas police: Unapproved chokehold used in fatal foot chase

This undated booking photo provided by the Hawaii Department of Public Safety shows Tashii Brown, known to them as Tashii Farmer-Brown. He was released from state custody in January, 2016, according to the department. Court records show he was sentenced to five years in prison in 2010 for assault. Brown, unarmed, died early Sunday, May 14, 2017, outside The Venetian in Las Vegas, after a police officer grabbed him in a neck hold, a much-criticized law enforcement technique to subdue people. Brown became unconscious and died, despite efforts at CPR. (Hawaii Department of Public Safety via AP) This undated booking photo provided by the Hawaii Department of Public Safety shows Tashii Brown, known to them as Tashii Farmer-Brown. He was released from state custody in January, 2016, according to the department. Court records show he was sentenced to five years in prison in 2010 for assault. Brown, unarmed, died early Sunday, May 14, 2017, outside The Venetian in Las Vegas, after a police officer grabbed him in a neck hold, a much-criticized law enforcement technique to subdue people. Brown became unconscious and died, despite efforts at CPR. (Hawaii Department of Public Safety via AP)

By Associated Press May 18, 2017 4 min read

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Las Vegas police officer used a stun gun seven times and an unapproved mixed martial arts chokehold to subdue an unarmed man who died after a foot chase through a casino, authorities said.

Officer Kenneth Lopera thought the man had tried to carjack a pickup truck with two people inside before the officer fired the stun gun in a series of staccato bursts and used the chokehold – a tactic that is not approved by the department – early Sunday at The Venetian resort, Clark County Undersheriff Kevin McMahill said.

McMahill showed video from Lopera’s body camera during a news conference on the incident. Police posted video of the news conference including edited body camera and Venetian security footage to the Internet.

“Don’t move! Get on your stomach!” Lopera can be heard telling the man who the Clark County coroner identified as Tashii S. Brown. Police have used the name Tashii Farmer. His mother said he sometimes hyphenates his last name, Farmer-Brown.

“I will!” he can be heard saying.