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Aug 27, 2009 5:16 pm US/Central
Fort Worth Taser Death Ruled A Homicide
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner said the in-custody death of a mentally disabled man was a homicide. The ruling came on the heels of a series of CBS 11 News reports highlighting the case of Michael Jacobs Jr.
It's another black eye for the Fort Worth Police Department.
But, the Jacobs family did not comment on the ruling. They said they would speak on Friday, at a press conference to be held at their house.
On Thursday night, the house was quiet, though Michael Sr. marked a birthday. It was his own. There was little to celebrate on the day that the Medical Examiner ruled Michael Jr.'s death a homicide. The family only recently spoke of their pain. "We're in living Hell. I mean, I have a lot of good days and a lot of bad days," Charlotte Jacobs said.
"We just keep expecting him to walk through the door but," Michael Sr. said, his voice trailing off.
On April 18, Michael Jr., who suffers from schizophrenia, was off his medication. Charlotte Jacobs called 911.
Charlotte: "He's out there cursing and carrying on, jamming on stuff."
Dispatcher: "He's outside the house?"
Charlotte: "Yeah, we had to put him outside of the house."
Dispatcher: "Is he violent?"
Mother: "Hmm! Y'all better bring enforcement."
According to the Medical Examiner's report, police used a Taser on Jacobs twice. The first Taser deployment lasted 49 seconds. Then, there was a one second pause. The second taser deployment lasted five seconds.
Police Chief Jeff Halstead held a press conference soon after the Medical Examiner's ruling. "First and foremost, we wanted to extend our condolences to the family of Michael Jacobs," Halstead said.
Halstead added that, since 2001, the department has used Tasers 1,360 times. Four people died. Jacobs was the only one ruled a homicide.
Halstead would not take any questions or make any comments about the police officers involved because the case is going to a grand jury. "I can't make any comments about specifics of our investigation and I can't comment on the past behaviors of any employees," Halstead said.
City officials made statements of their own.
Mayor Mike Moncrief said, "We will continue to watch this case closely."
City council member Kathleen Hicks said, "I believe the grand jury will be able to make a final and unbiased decision."
City council member Frank Moss said, "If the chief's investigation finds that adjustments are needed, the community will count on him to make the necessary changes."
Any changes will be too late for the Jacobs family, who only wanted police to take their son to the hospital.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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