Taser gun arrest video circulated

CantonRep
Sep. 09, 2005

CANTON — The brother of a man who died after police used a Taser gun during his arrest gathered reporters at the Stark County Courthouse on Thursday to voice his family’s disapproval of last week’s grand jury decision not to indict the officers.

Two police officers were called to the home of Shawn Pirolozzi on June 13 after residents reported seeing a bloody and naked man running into traffic and jumping on cars. Police said that when the officers arrived, he attacked them. One officer shot him with a shock-inducing Taser.

Videotape from the police cruiser shows Pirolozzi struggling with the arresting officers. One officer repeatedly hit Pirolozzi in the neck in what police said was a trained technique used on uncooperative suspects. The other officer is seen kicking him. The Police Department released the same tape several weeks ago.

Officers Eric Stanbro and William Guthrie were suspended, but returned to their jobs after a Stark County grand jury decided not to indict them. An Internal Affairs investigation into their actions is continuing.

Stark County Coroner P.S. Murthy later ruled Pirolozzi’s death a homicide, citing the cause as “excited delirium” as well as self-inflicted injuries. Pirolozzi had wounds from the shattered window glass from his home and oncoming vehicles.

Murthy said that his definition of homicide is merely a medical designation, meaning a person’s life is taken by another person.

Troy Pirolozzi said the family was disappointed in the grand jury’s findings.

“We are shocked that at least aggravated assault charges weren’t brought against these officers,” said Troy Pirolozzi, Shawn’s brother.

He distributed a stack of DVDs of the arrest, which he described as “very graphic and brutal.”

He said the family is “still pursuing other options” with regard to the death of his brother, but he did not elaborate.