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Coroner: Man Tased In October Died Of Methamphetamine Overload

Officials autopsied Darnell Hutchinson, a 32-year-old Oakland resident, who died in the course of being arrested outside Nation's Hamburgers.

 

The Alameda County Coroner's Department has determined that the man who was Tased while being arrested outside Nation's Hamburgers died from acute methamphetamine intoxication, San Leandro police said Tuesday.

The determination of accidental death follows an autopsy of Darnell Hutchinson, 32, of Oakland who was arrested on October 9 after police responded to a report that he was acting erratically inside the downtown restaurant.

At the time police said four officers responded to the call but were unable to restrain Hutchinson, which led to them to use a Taser.

A Nation's clerk said Hutchinson had an extreme reaction to the shock and saw officers try to revive him.

Police say the suspect was taken to the hospital where he died.

An internal review by the San Leandro Police Department had previously determined that the officers had acted according to the protocols for Taser use.

San Leandro police spokesman Lt. Jeff Tudor characterized the coroner's report as a clean bill of health for the officers and the department.

"The loss of life in this case is tragic, however, the level of drugs in Mr. Hutchinson’s system made it difficult for him to be saved,” he said.

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Related Topics: Police & Fire and Taser

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