Pubdate: Mon, 09 Oct 2006
Source: Herald Sun, The (NC)
Copyright: 2006 The Durham Herald Company
Contact:  http://www.heraldsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4071
Author: Beth Velliquette

TASERED MAN DIED OF COCAINE POISONING

PITTSBORO -- A man who led Chatham sheriff's deputies on a police 
chase and then died shortly after they tasered and handcuffed him in 
July died of cocaine poisoning, according to the N.C. Medical 
Examiner's office.

Toxicology tests showed a very high concentration of cocaine in the 
body of Shannon Lane Johnson, 37, of 939 Edwards Hill Church Road, 
Siler City, the autopsy report said. "Death is due to cocaine 
poisoning," the report states.

Law enforcement officers first encountered Johnson acting erratically 
in the traffic circle around the courthouse in the center of 
Pittsboro on Sunday about 5 a.m. on July 23. On the "narrative 
summary of circumstances surrounding death," Marion Griffin, a 
physician in Randolph County, wrote that Johnson "was stopping cars 
telling people he was the devil and otherwise appearing wild and 
probably dangerous."

When officers tried to confront him, he ran and jumped in a truck and 
drove west on U.S. 64 heading toward Siler City, the Chatham County 
Sheriff's Office reported.

Chatham deputies gave chase, and according to the N.C. Highway 
Patrol, which investigated the ensuing accident, Johnson drove more 
than 90 mph during the 40-mile chase that went into Randolph County.

Johnson drove over "stop sticks," spiked material that officers throw 
or lay across the road to flatten tires, but he kept on driving for 
about 18 more miles. Eventually he ran off the side of the road in 
Randolph County and into a ditch. Sheriff's deputies reported he 
kicked out the driver's side window, got out of the truck and tried 
to get away.

As the deputies tried to take control of Johnson, he swung at them 
and resisted arrest. A deputy used a taser on him several times, said 
Major Gary Blankenship of the Chatham County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies were able to handcuff and restrain Johnson's legs, but he 
continued to struggle, Blankenship said. About 20 minutes later, 
Johnson began having trouble breathing, according to reports. 
Paramedics were already at the scene to check him for injuries from 
the accident, and they began to work on him but were not able to 
restart his heart.

Thomas Clark, an associate chief medical examiner, wrote there was 
evidence of injury from the wreck, including large abrasions on both 
cheeks and Johnson's chin. His upper lip was bruised, and both wrists 
and ankles had bands of bruising consistent with the history of being 
restrained.

There was a 3/8-inch abrasion that may have been from the taser 
electrode, Clark wrote. However, Johnson's body and head did not show 
any injuries or disease that may have caused his death, the report said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman