Cop Watch

Monday, November 14, 2005

Taser death ruled homicide; no charges will be filed

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) -- The death of a man who died after sheriff's deputies shocked him with a Taser was ruled a homicide Wednesday, but the district attorney will not press charges.

Timothy Mathis died last month in part because of heart failure from being shocked three to seven times with the stun gun during an altercation with Larimer County Sheriff's deputies, the coroner's office said.

However District Attorney Larry Abrahamson said there are other things beyond an autopsy report to consider when looking at homicide charges, such as intent. He ruled that force was justified in the case.