ORLANDO, Fla. — Authorities are waiting for a toxicology results Friday on a Central Florida man who died after he was shocked by an Orlando police officer's taser at Universal Studios' CityWalk.
AT THE SCENE: Images Of Investigation
Many times when people die after being shocked by a taser they're found to have had drugs in their system, and that is what police are trying to determine.
However, WFTV learned that there was nothing in Adam Johnson's past that explains his behavior before he died. Johnson turned 33 years old two days ago. He has no prior criminal history and the only thing on his record was some traffic tickets.
Universal security called Orlando police because they said they needed help dealing with someone they called an out-of-control, irrational guest.
"He was kind of pacing around, grabbing his beard, grabbing his head and hair, and they were trying to get a hold of him. He was being disorderly," said Sgt. Barb Jones, of the Orlando Police Department.
Five off-duty Orlando police officers, who were working security at the park, tried to restrain Johnson and called for backup from an on-duty officer.
They said when Johnson resisted violently one of them deployed his taser. Police cuffed Johnson, who is from Winter Haven, but while he was down he became unresponsive.
Despite CPR efforts to revive him, Johnson died.
Police said his behavior led them to believe he had some type of mental or substance abuse problem, and officers were looking to have him baker-acted.
"The medical examiner is going to have to do that, but I would certainly be interested in the toxicology report on this particular individual. It was behavior that was not rational," Jones said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been brought in to investigate.
The five officers involved are on paid administrative leave, which is standard for any officer involved in a case of this caliber.
Law enforcement expert Dr. Richard Weinblatt said even with five officers restraining Johnson, using the taser was still the right choice.
Law enforcement continues to stand behind tasers, despite reports of some 300 nationwide deaths since 2001.
Five people died after Orange County deputies stunned them with tasers between 2001 and 2008.
Former Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary even went so far as to have himself tased to prove their safety.
It could take several weeks to determine a cause of death, but Weinblatt says tasers are still safer than fist fights or batons.
Previous Stories: January 27, 2011: Officers Want To Purchase Rapid-Fire Tasers October 13, 2010: Orange Co. Sheriff's Office Changing Taser Policy October 13, 2010: Taser-Cam Captures Naked Jogger Takedown August 30, 2010: Orlando Spending Over $400K On New Tasers August 23, 2010: 3-Year-Old Shocked By Taser During Arrest Attempt
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