Dale Burns Inquest Report

[CelticMuscle]

(BBC News report : January 21st 2013)

A bodybuilder who died hours after being arrested was Tasered by police four times in less than a minute, an inquest heard. Dale Burns, 27, died in hospital after police were called to his flat in Barrow, Cumbria, in August 2011. Mr Burns was undressed and under the influence of illegal drugs when officers arrived, jurors at Kendal County Hall were told. Up to 50 witnesses are expected to give evidence at the two-week hearing.

Mr Burns was repeatedly hit "without warning" by the electric shock gun and pepper-sprayed in the face as officers tried to hold him with handcuff and leg restraints, the inquest heard.

Alan Sharp, the deputy coroner for South and East Cumbria, told the jury of five women and six men they may have to see distressing CCTV footage of a "wild-eyed, semi-naked and agitated" Mr Burns after his arrest for criminal damage.

Mr Sharp said: "It is very distressing. It lasts about 10 minutes."

The father-of-two, described at the hearing as a "gentle giant", died at Furness General Hospital about two hours after police were called to his flat. A neighbour living below Mr Burns reported water leaking through her ceiling. Police were called after the landlord's agent broke into the property and found the former nightclub doorman "possibly self-harming". Six officers arrived and found Mr Burns sweating, very agitated, with dilated pupils and his eyes rolling in the back of his head.

Jurors were told how Mr Burns explained to police how he had taken a "gram of Madcat", a drug believed to be MDPV, or methylenedioxypyrovalerone, but refused treatment when paramedics were called. He was told he would be arrested for criminal damage as the bathroom toilet, extractor fan and light fitting were broken, but became aggressive and approached one of the officers with his fists clenched.

Mr Burns was Tasered four times before officers managed to get handcuffs and leg restraints on him and decided to carry him down three flights of stairs before taking him to hospital.

"During all this time Dale was said to be struggling violently with the officers," Mr Sharp said.

Jurors heard how Mr Burns calmed down after he was given diazepam by doctors, but he then suffered a seizure followed by a heart attack. Despite hospital staff and a police officer giving CPR for 40 minutes, he was pronounced dead at 20:41 BST. A post-mortem examination revealed there was no abnormality of Mr Burns's heart but there were traces of MDPV in his blood. Mr Burns' death is also the subject of a separate inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. The inquest continues.

[Rarity]

Depressing. Don't do drugs. Drugs are bad, M'kay?

[nnnrg]

Don't do tasers. Tasers interrupt the cardiac rhythm. That's bad.

Drugs don't help either, but it was the repeated electrocutions that killed him.

[CelticMuscle]

A designer drug was responsible for the death of a bodybuilder who was Tasered by police, an inquest has found. Dale Burns, 27, suffered a heart attack following his arrest at his home in Barrow, Cumbria in August 2011.

The hearing, at Kendal Coroner's Court, heard that he had taken a substance known as "Madcat", and was Tasered during a violent struggle with police.

It ruled that the drug was the only significant cause of death and a narrative verdict was recorded. Mr Burns, the father of two young children, and described by those closest to him as a "gentle giant", had taken the stimulant, also known as MDPV, on the night he died.

In the course of a violent struggle with police he was Tasered four times and pepper-sprayed in the face.

He was taken to Furness General Hospital and had to be sedated before he could be assessed, but suffered a cardiac arrest and died. During the two-and-a-half-week hearing, members of the jury were presented with evidence from experts in fields such as drugs, emergency medicine, pathology and police equipment and training.

The jury ruled that the force police used was appropriate and the only cause of death was the drug he had taken on the day. After the hearing a lawyer for Mr Burns' children said they still had concerns about police training.

Supt Mark Pannone of Cumbria Police said: "The last few weeks have been extremely difficult for all involved and our thoughts and condolences continue to be with Dale Burns' family and friends.

"Despite newspaper headlines at the time of Mr Burns' tragic death, detailed evidence from expert witnesses at this inquest has proved that his death was not caused by police use of Taser.

"The evidence at the inquest highlighted the dangers of MDPV, which is a Class B drug also known as Madcat, Plant Food and Ivory Wave.

"These are not 'safe' drugs. For Mr Burns, MDPV was lethal.

"Cumbria Constabulary representatives listened to the evidence heard at the inquest and, in addition to any recommendations the coroner may choose to make in relation to policies, procedures or training, we will ensure that lessons learned from this experience are addressed." The Independent Police Complaints Commission has released the results of their investigation into the incident, which concluded that officers acted appropriately and that the force they used was justified.