Death of man Tasered probed

SBI investigating case in which man hit head after police shocked him

Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death of a Morganton man who died Sunday morning after two police officers shocked him with Tasers.

Donald Clarke Grant, 54, fell and hit his head Saturday night after two officers from the Morganton Public Safety Department tried subduing him with Taser shocks, said Chief Mark Tolbert.

He was first taken to Grace Hospital and, about 10:40 p.m., was taken to Mission Memorial Hospital in Asheville, Tolbert said. Clark died in Asheville about 9:45 a.m. Sunday.

Grant, authorities said, had been pounding on a neighbor's door about 8:15 p.m. Saturday and had made several threats toward other neighbors.

When officers arrived at the Morganton neighborhood, near Logan and South Matthews streets, they asked Clark to return to his home, but he refused, Tolbert said.

Clark charged at the officers several times, Tolbert said, but would back away before reaching them. The officers told Clark they were going to arrest him for communicating threats and resisting and delaying officers, Tolbert said, but Clark would not listen to the officers' instructions.

"They tried to get him to go into the house, so they could leave," Tolbert said, "but he continued to charge and retreat."

Clark did not threaten police with a weapon, Tolbert said.

When Clark charged at the officers again, Tolbert said, two of the four police officers shocked him with their Tasers. The force of the shock caused Clark to fall and hit his head, Tolbert said.

The four officers involved, including the two who shocked Clark, have been put on administrative leave with pay until the SBI has finished its review of the incident, Tolbert said.

Tolbert would not name the officers involved.

The SBI's report will be turned over to the district attorney's office for review.


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