Autopsy Says Man Tased By Deputies Died Naturally

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Posted: 2:59 PM Nov 18, 2008
Last Updated: 2:22 PM Feb 19, 2009

102 comments

Clarence Smith autopsy

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An autopsy says a man who died this summer was tased four times by Bertie County deputies. The report lists Clarence Smith's death as natural.

On July 9th, the 29-year-old Smith died at Bertie Memorial Hospital. He was taken to the hospital after being tased by sheriff deputies, south of Windsor.

Deputies were trying to take Smith to the hospital for an involuntary commitment after his sister said he was "acting funny."

The autopsy obtained by WITN News says Smith was tased four times by deputies. About a half hour later, Smith stopped breathing in the hospital emergency room and later was pronounced dead.

To view the autopsy, click the link at the top of this story

The autopsy says there were no drugs found in Smith's system. The medical examiner listed his death as caused by cardiovascular collapse due to acute psychosis. After a review by the Chief Medical Examiner, it says Smith's death was natural.

Relatives told deputies Smith had been working in Louisiana for the past two to three years and his behavior began to change, so they brought him back in North Carolina on June 22. The autopsy says several years ago Smith nearly died of a drug overdose when "he tried to hide some cocaine in his rectum."

Contacted this morning, Bertie County Sheriff Greg Atkins wouldn't comment about the autopsy, saying the death was still under investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: shannon Location: new york on Mar 24, 2009 at 01:23 AM
I read some of your comments and I don't understand any thing I read. First his sister called for help for her brother something seriously had to be going on. Maybe he was using the shem stick. why when Black kill Black it's okay but when its an Officer they are wrong or its racism. wake up people this young man was acting weird they bought him back home from Louisiana those are evil wicked people in that state.

Posted by: letonya Location: bertie on Mar 4, 2009 at 07:35 PM
i am out done with the lie's just say that thay did it''''''''

Posted by: concerned female Location: williamston on Mar 3, 2009 at 09:04 PM
YOU ALL ARE STILL IN MY PRAYERS...THE TRUTH IS ALREADY KNOWN & THEN TO BRING UP HIS PAST, SO LOW...KEEP YOUR HEADS UP & STAY STRONG...MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU ALL.....

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 28, 2009 at 09:53 PM
COVER UP

Posted by: sis Location: winterville nc on Feb 26, 2009 at 11:49 PM
Hell,a child is a child.What u do too other will come back to u.windsor cops have alot to pay for.Let go this way,crime is every where,from the courth-to the jail house,tothe front house.GET THAT IN YOUR HEAD,a life for alife.SILLy I hope Clarence Smith family do the right thang,an take action toward those MEN in Bertie co.There are durgs all around the place,an other places too.Why pick on one man.FACE THE FACT,DRUGS STARTED FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM,CATCH THAT ONE,IF U DON'T U ARE DAM CRAZY,AN I MEANT THAT.A father lost his son,an u can't bring him BACK.THE law enforcement need a make over.I hope the SMITH family settle this one,cops need to pay for their action,an people need to mind their on frontdoor.FRIENDS ARE FEW.Love u all.

Posted by: Medra Location: Fayetteville on Feb 24, 2009 at 08:27 PM
Wow C-lo can you believe this even after you have pasted on they STILL talking about your criminal history! True you have a record of resisting arrest and drug use. You know they were out to get y'all anyway! Sorry this had to happen to you FRIEND! You also had a record of drug use but NO DRUGS were found in your system! So they had to say natural cause, cause they couldn't use the drugs as the reason! They even brought up 2004! This happened in 2008! So if you wasn't tased would you have died that day? They say you can't die from tasers so how come you're not the only one that died from it! Come on people when are we gonna stand up and fight! Won't nobody understand until it happens to one of their loved ones! I don't know what happen but all I know is I MISS YOU! My heart goes out to the family! It's almost a year and it still ain't over! When I read it my heart felt like it happened all over again!! Rest in Peace my FRIEND!! MUCH LOVE! MEDRA

Posted by: Duped by cops Location: NC on Dec 21, 2008 at 09:45 PM
I found this doing research. I left a situation my family faced for more than 20 years because I developed PTS. My husband chose to remain. He has problems too because of stress and the person who caused the situation (he has done the same to others he wants something from, but is refused)have a close relationship with law enforcement. To get to the end, my formal spouse is in Central Prison hospital because of injuries, being tear gassed, and tased. He cannot even get the evaluation ordered that night because his blood pressure was extremely high. His injuries were ignored and is the reason central gives for refusing to release him to Dix. Don't say tasers are use because they are necessary. Was told two stories. He had a gun which is wrong and he wouldn't get up from the floor. He barely could get up using a walker. The man still can't walk any distance and it has been 2 1/2 months.

Posted by: LovelyLinda Location: B-More Careful Boo on Dec 12, 2008 at 03:48 PM
You all talking this and that but we fail to remember that God has a plan for us all. You have to realize that we all is not going to die from Aids, Cancer, Drunk Driving, or Overdose, it could be natural causes. But just remember when it is our time no one is ready just yet, all we can do is make sure our hearts are right. So we need to stop gossiping, wearing about others, and running off with the mouths, just tarry for Jesus. Claris we will miss you so deeply and I knew you as Claris who was cool with me since way back. Rest in Peace and let God handle the Rest. God Bless you and Latrice, and the whole family. Love you.

Posted by: David Location: Durham on Dec 4, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Come on are some of you people serious. Clarence was a childhood and adult friend of mine. It hurts me to read some comments about Clarnece when alot of you never met him. First of all he was not a drug addict, and yes he had a trouble past but hell who didn't. Some may have not went down that road but you did something stupid. Again it hurts to see what some people have written, because my friend is dead. We all can talk about a person when they are dead because they can't defend themselves, but some can't even talk to a person when they are alive. Please give my friend some type of respect. If this was your child how would you feel about your child being tasered to death at the age of 29. CLARENCE WE MISS YOU & WE LOVE YOU

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 24, 2008 at 03:39 PM
I saw someone posted "you reap what you sow". This is true, very true, but does NOT apply in this situation at all! Obviously no one here can justify either side, none of us were there to do so. It is a sad story and I'm sure priviledges get abused quite often but who's to say they were here? When being taken in for INVOLUNTARY commitment you MUST be handcuffed. Regardless of understanding that or not there shouldn't have been any resistance. Again though it is a sad situation and and the family should be kept in mind by all.

Posted by: To P()*&^ off Location: HerE on Nov 22, 2008 at 02:39 PM
WITN---I am offended that you posted a name like P***** Off. Anyway, I just wanted to ask her, how does SHE know so much about law enforcement? And why should a black sherriff be elected if the current sheriff was NOT there, at the time Mr. Smith was being tased?? I think you should become THE sheriff. Maybe you would be happy getting rid of ALL the "racist" white people!!!

Posted by: sherrona Location: plymouth on Nov 22, 2008 at 02:04 PM
hello witn. i would like to say that autopsy isn't accurate. clearance jr. had no history of heart problems. he wasn;t sick before he got tased so the deputies responsible caused his death. im sure it was natural after they tased him they just trying to look out foreach other. if the deputies wouldn't have tased him he will still be living today. let's keep this real and honest he wasn't even sick the morning or during the time of this tragedy so his death wasn't a natural caused it was caused by deputies over reacting and abusing the tasing method. R.I.P Jr. 2008

Posted by: H Location: P on Nov 22, 2008 at 01:40 AM
I'm really sorry to hear about this. This was someone's son, brother, cousin, friend and we'll never KNOW all the details. That being said, I think that a lot of people might not have multiple arrests on the records if the judges would actually PUNISH them instead of slapping them on their wrists and sending them back out into society to violate us again and again and again and again and again!

Posted by: ~ALPHA female~ Location: O84P on Nov 21, 2008 at 08:34 PM
To: The Smith Family.... no matter what the cops say... no matter what the medical examiner says... hold true to your faith....you will be redeemed! You reap what you sow....good, bad, or indifferent. RIP Clarence Smith

Posted by: in my opinion Location: f on Nov 21, 2008 at 06:19 PM
i havent taken the time to read everyones post but in my opinion, couldnt the tasing CAUSE mental distress, and have aggravated the psychosis--i can only imagine how frightening that situation was for that poor man. not sure if that stands up in court, but i think if my job was to help commit a mental patient, i would do my best to keep the person calm. i think these guys just didnt understand the situation or know the protocol in dealing with mental patients. i dont think they had ill will towards the victim, but for the family's sake wish they had done things differently.

Posted by: pete Location: greenville on Nov 21, 2008 at 05:37 PM
the apple didn't fall far from the tree.his record speaks for itself.several resist charges.

Posted by: S Location: Gvegas on Nov 21, 2008 at 05:08 PM
What is wrong with everyone? Right is right and wrong is wrong!!! This was clearly wrong It doesn't matter what color he was, this was a cruel and horrible incident.I saw Clarence just days before he was tased and he was perfectly healthy. Drugs and alcohol were not a factor. The police were called because he was having mental issues that evolved from unknown causes several weeks before returning home. People are so ignorant. Clarence resisted arrest because he didn't understand why the police were there to get him.DUH. He was having mental issues. And for all those who said that tasering him was okay. Do you all understand that Clarence was a small guy. There were four police officers!! They tasered him four times!!! Twice while he was in shackles!!! People are idiots if they think this much force was needed. RIP Clarence. My love goes out to his family!!! and just to let everyone know I am not black. Both my dad and brother were cops. However, you can clearly see which side I'm on!

Posted by: concerned Location: nc on Nov 21, 2008 at 04:43 PM
to Mr Smith's family: sorry for the loss of your loved one. No matter what a child does, you still love them and don't want to see them "dead"! Please have your attorney get an independent autopsy report! As having first hand knowledge, I know the coroners used by and for the authorities, lie and cover up! I HEARD it once with MY OWN EARS! The coroners office thought they had put me on hold and they had not and I heard their whole conversation! It was devastaing! I heard them ADMIT to a cover up and did not have the money top fight them. Please DEMAND another INDEPENDENT autopsy! Once again, sorry for your loss!

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 21, 2008 at 02:27 PM
I don't want to sound critical or anything of the such but the taser was more of an "influence" not the TRUE root cause of his death.

Posted by: ~ALPHA female~ Location: O84P on Nov 21, 2008 at 01:12 PM
To:oh boy....I noticed in your post you stated..."I didn't see anywhere that he died of natural causes." So look at the title of this blog..it says ..Autopsy Says Man Tased By Deputies Died Naturally. And in the first paragraph it says...The report lists Clarence Smith's death as natural. All of which was copied and pasted. Your welcome!

Posted by: Jenny Location: NC on Nov 21, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Tasers are used so the law enforcement can give a person a chance to do right and not have to shoot them. What would you do if you were trying to get a person that had broken the law, or a person that their family had called on that is out of control, what would you do? Can you have a conversation and ask them to please be nicer. Get real, we have law enforcement for a reason. They do their jobs the best way they can to not get killed themselves.

Posted by: gimme a break Location: NC on Nov 21, 2008 at 12:44 PM
tigerwoods-cops don't randomly "give you charges". You have to earn them. And what the heck does lung capacity have to do with a breathalyzer?! If that be the case.....quit drinking!!! I don't want my family scraped of the road b/c you wanted to party. This is just an obvious example of the circle this guy hung with. These officers did not KILL this man. As someone else said, if you can't handle your own family, how do you expect them to? They are not going to be gentle and loving. Take care of your own if you don't want them involved and stop these ridiculous accusations.

Posted by: tigerwoods Location: ct-nc on Nov 21, 2008 at 12:01 PM
I am so glad i found myself in a relationship thats leading me to get married, 5-09, I know alot of things officers do is not right, bottom line is we never know what they do on their spare time, they dont get caught, this situation is hard for the family,friends, and community to deal with law enforcement, good/bad, martin co. has given me so mant charges and have my record so chopped/screwed i cant even get a ticket in nc without serving the time, I am surely coming back to have all of my xcharges looked aty because nc martin-bertie do what they want, I am not racist, but to you all did you know a breathalyzer is racist, due to black african americans lungs are 3% less than other races which makes a big differernce, anyway back to bertie cruelty, I am in hope and praying for my longtime friend Clarence sr., he even know some of the same officers killed his son, what if he was in that state of mind and something happen and officer was injured critically, would they look at his actio

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 21, 2008 at 11:52 AM
TO: oh boy - I agree. If he had not resisted he ouwld not have been tased. He did have mental issues so how knows what he was seeing or experiencing at the moment. The officers surely had no clue what was going on in his head.

Posted by: oh boy Location: eastern nc on Nov 21, 2008 at 10:28 AM
I would think if there were problems with any arrythmias they would have been noticed in the ED when he was evaluated. Even after he arrived there he had to be restrained. I didn't see anywhere that he died of natural causes. Bottom line, if HE had not resisted, he would not have been tased.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Here on Nov 21, 2008 at 10:25 AM
The NAACP don't want to get involved because they scared they will get tazed.

Posted by: Elvis Location: Somewhere on Nov 21, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Everything in this world is not racial. Unless you ever deal with people with mental issues you don't realize the strength they can have. If the family couldn't deal with him, do you think the cops could just walk up and get him under contol? Sometime it does take force. This would have happened if he was "green".

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 21, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Some people are just too ignorant (misinformed or uninformed). The cops were called by the FAMILY, HINT HINT! There was a reason to that. He had mental issues and was resisting the ENTIRE time the cops were in contact with him, even at the hospital. Also I have still yet to see an answer from those complaing about the situation, WHAT SHOULD THEY HAVE DONE THEN???!! No they don't have to tase an unarmed man, BUT he was resisting with all that he had form the start to the finish IN the hospital. So now I see they're supposed to leave him be and not worry ab his resistance, RIGHT?! Another thing, WHY do these types of things ALWAYS turn into a racial issue? It's sad that it does because it just stirs the pot even more. He would have never been arrested or anything of the such if his FAMILY hadn't called the cops. Complain to them, the cops did what they felt needed to be done. We should support more than bash more often. Get over yourselves and all the negative thoughts continuously.

Posted by: Rich on Nov 21, 2008 at 06:33 AM
Nicely said Getta Grip. You've summed up what most Normal people are thinking. I just don't understand some of these post. Most would be the first to call the Police if they needed something from them. And to Rob-Why must the NAACP get involved? If they haven't then maybe it because even they know the Police did what they had to do. Disinter, your comment is just plain rediculous and doesn't even deserve a comment.

Posted by: disinter Location: http://disinter.wordpress.com/ on Nov 21, 2008 at 12:29 AM
Silly slave, how dare he act "funny". The gang of police thugs murder yet another...

Posted by: T Location: NC on Nov 20, 2008 at 09:56 PM
Why do you always attack the cops?! They never have anyone on their side. It plainly states that he HAD a drug problem. Maybe he was clean at the time, but...isn't that why YOU SHOULD NOT DO DRUGS? These people, HIS FAMILY, called the police on him. If they wanted him to get friendly and caring attention then they should have told him they were going to take him out for lunch and instead dropped him off at Cherry Hospital! Officers are not social workers, they are trained to apprehend not counsel. If you had to be worried that someone was going to kill you every time you walked in a door, you might be more understanding of what they do. I will stand behind these officers because it seems like no one else will. They protect us from the nuts and crazies that walk the streets. Try thanking them sometime instead of acting stupid when they walk in i.e. throwing up your hands and saying "I didn't do it!!" or "Hey bossman". Please show them the appreciation they deserve.

Posted by: ~ALPHA female~ Location: O84P on Nov 20, 2008 at 09:55 PM
SURPRISE....who didn't see this coming? This 29 year old man was tased 4 times, and 30 minutes later he died at the hospital...and it was because of natural causes. What did anyone expect the medical examiner to say....it was the cop's fault..LOL! That's not happening. I'm sure if the family could do it all over..they would. And still under investigation means...."fool people into thinking we are doing something until they forget, so we can stop pretending". RIP Clarence Smith

Posted by: pissed off Location: racist county on Nov 20, 2008 at 09:50 PM
i see why people never return to bertie county once they graduate. this is the most racist county i have ever seen. I'm sick of this BS!!! you all walk around and act like racism isn't here. so much stuff have been covered up and I'm sick of it. this young man criminal history has nothing to do with him being tasered. so you all are telling me because he had a criminal record he deserves to be tased. I pray for you fools. How would you feel if that was your family member. get that Sherriff out of office!!! election time is coming up!!

Posted by: Rob Location: NC on Nov 20, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Any reaction from the NAACP?

Posted by: oh boy Location: eastern nc on Nov 20, 2008 at 08:10 PM
To Mr. Mackey: Bertie County has not said he would have died anyway that day. The Medical Examiner at PCMH did the autopsy. the sheriff of Bertie County said it is still under investigation.

Posted by: Marjorie Location: Milwaukee on Nov 20, 2008 at 05:42 PM
TASER International Inc. (TI) designed Tasers so they DON'T kill electrically, then teaches that the ONLY way a Taser CAN kill is electrically, then claims Tasers are safe. What's wrong here? Tasers can kill in other ways, which TI knows but conceals. Proof? TI posted "An Open Letter to the Law Enforcement Community" on the public portion of its Web site Dec. 2005 but removed it in spring 2007. Why? My guess is TI figured out that readers would realize it proved that a Taser can kill OTHER THAN electrically! This is now archived at so anyone can read it. (Multiple Taser shocks cause metabolic acidosis, which causes ventricular fibrillation, which causes cardiac arrest.) This could be how the Taser killed Clarence Smith Jr., UNLESS he was also shocked AFTER he was cuffed! Then Taser shocks would cause rhabdomyolysis, releasing potassium into his blood, stopping his heart (cardiac arrest via hyperkalemia). VERY fishy ME report!

Posted by: snowy1158 Location: windsor on Nov 20, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Thank you so much for finally bringing the truth out with the autopsy report! I am so sick of people blaming the law enforcement with everything that goes wrong in their lives on a "race issue"! I am sorry for the family of the young man who died...he is at peach and life will go on now. But please stop making everything in this county especially a race issue...i personally am sick of it and it needs to stop! And for those who think the pathologist were covering up something...geez...get a life!!!

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 20, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Getta Grip: THANK YOU!!! NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH THERE!

Posted by: Tod Location: New York on Nov 20, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Getta Grip, you said it all! That's right, if you don't want the law to take action, don't call them.

Posted by: Getta Grip Location: USA on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:02 PM
If you don't want law enforcement to tase or spray or whatever to your loved one, stop calling them to your house. Control your own family. It is not unusual for the police to receive a call from a parent wanting the police to come because they have an "out of control six year old." It's not unusual for the police to respond to a family's home because Grandpa is senile, threatening to kill family members and there are weapons in the house. If you can't control YOUR OWN family members what do you think law enforcement is going to do? They are going to control them for you. If you don't like the police, stop calling them to your house. Handle it yourself.

Posted by: Getta Grip Location: USA on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:53 PM
If the police/deputies were there to serve an involuntary committment order that meant that a family or the like had to go to the magistrate's office to obtain it. Involuntary committment is issued if a person is likely to due harm to himself or others. The family must have feared him harming himself or harming them. I guess they thought he would be cooperative with the deputies. Next time your relative "acts funny" you wrestle him into a car and drive him to the hospital.

Posted by: T Location: Washington on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Kahty: You are correct in saying Dysrhythmia can be caused by high voltage shocks no matter how short they are. I do not believe that police tasing did not kill the 29 yr. old man. I think the pathologist performing the autopsy is covering their behinds.

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:43 PM
Ditch Dr. - AMEN!!! That is in all honesty a major issue with quite a few people in this world, ME included! TOO many tripe to Bojangles, etc.

Posted by: Mr. Mackey Location: Choco on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:23 PM
So is Bertie County trying to say he would have died anyway that day without being tased? Do they expect us to buy that? Are we all idiots? As for law enforcement, he was tased after being handcuffed and leg-ironed, wasn't he? Sounds like somebody was a bit trigger happy. I doubt this guy (or most criminals) are Harry Houdini. After being shackled tasers should be illegal. Pepper spray if you must, but it isn't like they're going anywhere after being cuffed.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:19 PM
To Johnny- I never said HE was a criminal, I said Criminals Period. Neither one of us was there so we shouldn't judge the officers. I simply said there is nothing wrong with Tasing a person if he or she is out of control. And Kurt- I never said that Tasing someone was always warranted and of course tasing a 5 year old or 90 year old lady is wrong. Are you a Cop or have you even been a Cop? Unless you have and have been in that situation you should give them a break. Bottom line is Law enforcement officers make split second, life and Death decisions everyday. Because of some post like some on here they may hesitate next time they're in a similar situation. What if that next time an officer is trying to protect you or your family and hesitates. What if that split second hesitation cost him his life? We just need to give them a break and let them do there Job.

Posted by: kurt Location: oregon on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:48 AM
This is for Rich. How do you explain Law Enforcement using their tasers on 5 yr olds? Or how about 90 yr olds. Explain to me why a person is being tasered when there are a half dozen cops already pounding on them.Are you in favor of all of the above?

Posted by: Ditch Dr. Location: NC on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:47 AM
TO : KATHY - I think what you are you trying to say is that when a person is tased the SA node mis fires and cannot keep the ventricles pumping in sync with the the other nodes and decreasing preload follows thus causing V-Fib / V-Tach / SVT? I have persaonlly seen a persons cardiac rythum while being tased interpeted on a 12-lead ecg real time - It isnt pretty and a majrity of the time when a person gets tased if hit right can and will disrupt the persons chief pace maker resulting at a minimum of pac's and pvc's or a fluttering feeling in the persons chest. I will agree on one thing only - If a peson is tased in excess of what their heart can handle - they are going to have very acute cardiac conditions develop ; Everyone is different and handles voltage in many different ways. I guess maybe a few less trips to bojangles would make us less suceptable to death by taser in nc?

Posted by: Johnny Location: DC on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Rich @ 10:26, what law did he break that makes him a criminal (or CRIMINAL as you put it)? Acting funny?

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:48 AM
WOW Kathy simma down now! Actually again the voltage is still not what killed him. The CURRENT may have. With voltage there is "potential" for current but doesn't mean it can kill you. There is an issue with resistance and so on. The higher the voltage the more "potential" for current flow.

Posted by: Rich on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:26 AM
To everyone that seems to think CRIMINALS shouldn't be Tasered or Pepper sprayed. Just what exactly do you suggest the police should do? Talk to them? Give me a Break. Walk in their shows, deal with criminals everyday not knowing if you'll go home to your family or not. I salute The law enforcement community. And for those of you that say a 29 year old Can't die from natural causes, Do some Research because it is possible. Wake up people, If your breaking the law and aren't being compliant just what do you expect, for the police to do, Well Okay, I'll let you go because I can't tase you of Pepper spray you or Hit you with my Night stick or use any force at all, so I'll just let you go. I say unless you've walked in the shoes of Law enforcement, don't Criticize them for doing there Job. Support them for Protecting YOU and the rest of us from Criminals.

Posted by: jason Location: illinois on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:16 AM
I work in law enforcement. I'm not saying tasers shouldnt be allowed, but its RIDICULOUS to claim the taser didn't kill this guy. If he hadnt been tased, he wouldnt be dead now. Tasers are better than guns but this crap with every law enforce agency in the country trying to claim tasers dont kill in the face of obvious evidence is assinine.

Posted by: Kathy Location: Washington on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Excuse me all you wannabe doctors and lawmen. Voltage can and does cause abnormal heart rhythm, called dysrhythmia. In most people, after the voltage is turned off, the heart automatically converts back to normal, called normal sinus rhythm. If someone has a weakened heart, a cocaine user, someone who has been sick recently,or a birth defect, etc., voltage can cause a dysrhythmia that is unrecoverable causing the patient to go into an off rhythm, called ventricular fibrillation. This is where the bottom of the heart is shuddering but not getting the blood to where it needs to go to be oxygenated, sometimes causing a blackout, heart attack, decreased breathing, flatline, brain death. This young man, regardless of how his heart got weakened,was volted to death. End of story.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 09:37 AM
I didn't realize tazers were allowed to be used for non compliance. I thought they were the next to the last step to lethal force? So you don't comply, you get totured... hey, Bush says it's legal!

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 20, 2008 at 09:25 AM
TO: To All the Facts - Again being tased four times wouldn't necessarily kill him. Voltage doesn't kill, it's current that does. The way tasers are designed they put off ALOT of voltage but not so much amperage. The ampereage is what kills not the voltage of four tasers.

Posted by: To All the Facts on Nov 20, 2008 at 08:55 AM
To All the Facts, This man's criminal history has nothing to do with this. His death was brought on by being tased 4 times. That's the issue that should be addressed, not his pass. No one deserves to be killed and then have their death considered natural.

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 20, 2008 at 08:42 AM
Voltage doesn't kill, current does (amperes). So that is irrelevant. This IS a sad story but how in the world can any of us sit here and justify his actions towards the police. What were they supposed to do in the situation? I have still yet to see an answer to that question. There is no "designated" cop to use the taser. So he got four for his actions. Keep in mind he had a mental disorder. Who knows what he was seeing when the cops arrived. He was already "acting funny", stated by the family. That is something none of those cops would have known. Again it's a sad situation but your actions (past and present) do present a different view of you. They have to take more precautions due to previous criminal history.

Posted by: Bob Plank Location: Greenville on Nov 20, 2008 at 08:32 AM
John: You said "They're not protecting you." You are dead wrong the Greenville P.D. certainly came to my aid. I was robbed at gunpoint, kidnapped and threatened with my life. The police arrived and got these guys while they were still ransacking my house and I was still tied up. I would say that yes they are protecting us. I agree that police are just like all jobs, there are good eggs and bad eggs. Most people only read about the bad eggs. The Greenville P.D. saved my life. I saw the good eggs.

Posted by: Richard Corbett Location: Greensville on Nov 20, 2008 at 05:20 AM
He wasn't tasered 4 times. He was tasered by 4 Tasers at once. That's what caused his pulmonary distress. 4 x 52,000v=208,000v is enough to kill anyone.

Posted by: John Location: Roaming on Nov 20, 2008 at 05:09 AM
What do you expect from cops? I wouldnt be surprised to find out most of them are Child Rapists. No one dies of NATURAL causes at 29 years old. Cops will do what they want anyway. They're not protecting you. They're not maintaining the peace. They're creating community Income through arrests/tickets/court costs. Cops get treated the Same in prison as Child rapists. That is if they go to prison, they usually don't.

Posted by: objective journalist on Nov 20, 2008 at 04:29 AM
his sister will hopefully have a number of future thanksgivings to celebrate while looking at the empty chair at her family table and reflecting on the significance of her indictment of her brother on the unforgivable, death warranting charge of "acting funny." in the context of an autopsy, an allegation that the deceased placed cocaine in his rectum several years ago is irrelevant and incongruous, because it clearly didn't cause the death and appears to be gratuitously prejudicial. i am not going to extend my standard condolences to the family in this instance because i feel that the family should have been electroshocked to death too. darwin is truly great, but he needs to remain active 24/7 so that the turkey herd can be thinned almost as fast as it is multiplying. our only hope for a sustainable future is to issue tasers to everyone so that acute psychosis can curb the demand side of the zero-sum resource equation. tennis anyone?

Posted by: Bill Location: Pitt Co on Nov 20, 2008 at 03:41 AM
If you don't like the police, call a crackhead next time you need help. There are plenty of job openings in every law enforcement agency. Turn off Law and Order and CSI, apply for a job, hit the streets on patrol, and make a difference. Or else, quit your whining...you have no idea what you are talking about. Oh yeah, "tee ball," nice try....

Posted by: ~ALPHA female~ Location: O84P on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:22 AM
To:C...that's Mr.Times Up...you know he used his real name because if he didn't... then that would make him a hypocrite! And by all means...you must practice what you preach!!!Hallelujah

Posted by: Thomas Location: Creswell on Nov 20, 2008 at 12:10 AM
A-1 citizen, yeah right. Hiding cocaine up his rectum.

Posted by: LittleWolfe Location: TOWN NEAR U on Nov 20, 2008 at 12:04 AM
Bertie county deputies are the amoung the finest I have ever seen in my life. I work in public service everyday of my life ; Shame on you people for speaking what you do not know of - I personally know the Bertie County sheriffs office have the best of the best on patrol everyday all day - Even while u sleep - A cop gets a split sec to make a decision that is forever etched in the minds of the public and you people get a lifetime to pick it apart and slander it - I believe in bertie counties deputies so much I would surely give my life for any one of them at any given time - And yeah the tasers are considered a "non-lethal" form of restraint ; Have any of you every tried arressting s a person high on crack cocaine / pcp that is 3 x your size w/out using your gun? I didn't think so - You folks think this is a tragedy and so fourth - I challenge any one of you to enlist in your local blet program and become a cop for one day ; BERTIE SHERIFFS : YOU GUYS DO ONE HECK OF A JOB!! KEEP IT UP!

Posted by: Jerry Location: Cleveland, Ohio on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:47 PM
I am gonna fight for this guy and so is Lebron James.. I am gonna get justice for this guy, I already called the sherrif's office and they said they had no comment, I will call in the morning..,.. I will pursue the case till I die. We have a great legal team and the family I still have not been in touch with but if their listening or reading call 1-800-589-1035 and we "WILL" get some justice for this poor family that lost a good son.......

Posted by: Old School Location: NC on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Good one C. Yeah, maybe Times Up is his street name. True story: Many years ago a Washington, NC officer was called to take a HUGE woman into custody who was having a violent psychotic episode out in the street. A crowd had gathered. One of the "road lawyers" started yelling that if the officer used any force on the woman, he would see that the officer was sued. What did the officer do? He asked the loudmouth to get her into the back seat of the car. The woman attacked the jerk, who ended up screaming for the officer to shoot her. Everybody started laughing at him, including the woman and the officer then handcuffed her and put her in the car. The "road lawyer" got laughed right off the street by the other bystanders. Of course if you did that nowdays, you'd get sued by the guy. I'd love to get some of these commenters in a situation where THEY had to control a violent mentally ill person. I'd be rolling on the floor laughing.

Posted by: C on Nov 19, 2008 at 08:30 PM
For Times Up: Unless your birth name really is "Times Up", why are you telling other posters to use their real names ?

Posted by: Times Up Location: Crooked County on Nov 19, 2008 at 07:56 PM
i know that a lot of comments are coming from cops. don't put a fake name up here put your real name! you all are talking about look at his criminal record. what does a criminal record have to do with anything. let me say this in this county its not what you know its who you know. If you are caught with a DUI and you know the right people it would be swept under the rug. it's a lot of shady things going on in this town, but CHANGE is coming. so many things have happened in Bertie county and no one did anything about it..... again CHANGE is coming. Please believe it!

Posted by: change Location: change on Nov 19, 2008 at 07:53 PM
let's get a new sheriff

Posted by: C on Nov 19, 2008 at 07:31 PM
For those of you who're criticizing the police: If you've never worked in law enforcement, you've NO IDEA how officers should do their jobs. I would love to see how some of YOU would fare in that profession. YOU cuff a guy twice your size who'd rather fight than get cuffed..and be SURE you do it without hurting him, no matter HOW hard he tries to hurt you. YOU break up bar fights. Let YOUR kid come home crying because someone in his class called you a "pig". YOU try living your life in a fishbowl, where the public constantly watches your every move, on and off-duty. YOU wear that gun to work every day, while knowing that if you're ever forced to actually use it, you stand a real chance of losing your job , your freedom, and EVERYTHING you own in a lawsuit. YOU make that life-or-death decision in a split second, while the media and the courts take ALL the time they need to decide if you were right. Not interested ? Then BE QUIET. The sheep have NO right to criticize the sheepdog.

Posted by: robert Location: Grimesland on Nov 19, 2008 at 06:29 PM
I have a question... are tasers furnished with tax payers dollars or are they "personal" equipment , allowed to be used by the officer? If they are "personal " then we should keep an eye on the owners intentions. It's like having a new toy that you can't wait to play with.

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 19, 2008 at 04:55 PM
TO:???........They did cuff him and he was STILL resisting. He continued to resist at the hospital as well. That is why he was treated as he was, BUT he DID have a mental condition. Who knows maybe this was the casue of his temper tantum he threw. NO ONE DOES.

Posted by: Jolly Roger Location: NYC on Nov 19, 2008 at 04:51 PM
there are about 300 deaths so far that can be attributed to this "non-lethal" device, and cops are regularly using this as a torture device(tased him in cuffs?). Judges won't do anything to stop this, so it's up to the people to get their payback against the cops, the judges, and the CEO's. What choice have they given you?

Posted by: anon Location: TX on Nov 19, 2008 at 04:24 PM
So are they trying to say that the guy would have died anyways, with out the police's "help", around the same time? That is what it sounds like when they throw the words 'natural death' around.

Posted by: duanel Location: kinston on Nov 19, 2008 at 03:57 PM
how many people have to die after being tasered I know it is better than being shot but being tasered FOUR times? come on cops quit being so gung ho just like the cops being gungho at the ecu game

Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Nov 19, 2008 at 03:35 PM
My thing is this. If the guy was fighting, I can see maybe Tasering him once, but while he is being Tasered, put the cuffs on him. Dont stand there like Barney Fife and Gomer looking dumb like you dont know what to do next.If the deputies had of went ahead and cuffed him, he would have no longer been much of a threat and there would have been no need to Taser him again.The deputies that used the Taser 4 times should either submit to being Tasered 5 times in a row themselves or resign.

Posted by: To Tee-Ball Location: NC on Nov 19, 2008 at 02:09 PM
I'm a law enforcement officer. I've been tased too. It does hurt. How long have you been on the job? I couldn't even understand what you were talking about in your last five sentences. If you really are an officer, have you been one long enough to have to control a psychotic/combative individual? Sometimes it takes more than one cycle to control a person. It happens. This man had an extensive criminal record according to the NC D.O.C. link listed by All the Fact's comment right below yours and a history of drug abuse. Also, you may want to ask your departmental training officer to sign you up for some remedial spelling/grammar courses at your local community college. Good luck in your career.

Posted by: Tee-Ball Location: NC on Nov 19, 2008 at 01:03 PM
I'm a law enforcement officer and I thought when "Tasers" where introduced to agencies in eastern n.c., I thought it was a good thing. However, I was "tased" through my department about 6 months ago. The pain from these devices are bad! 52,000 volts of electricity and you can have a 3 or 5 second ride of this pain. I just wanted to say that I do not support criminal activity at all because I fight it and lock up the bad guys. However, in my OPINION, I believe "Tasers" do cause or promote such conditions in "healthy" people and they die! It's crazy that this young man died after being "Tased" repeatedly!! Too many accounts of these circumstances and the Medical Doctor rule as "natural" death. I don't believe. A subject resisting L.E. and then dies for a misdemeanor charge that would be file if he/she lives. That what the Taser is for, to temporalily subdue a person until the officer effective an arrest!

Posted by: All the Facts Location: NC on Nov 19, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Check out this link if you want to see his criminal record. http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do;jsessionid=13A0A5CDFDA6313671E7060F61B5FB07.CRMIS75_4?method=list

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 19, 2008 at 12:11 PM
The autopsy report states he was resisting the WHOLE time he was in contact with the officers. Not just once, or twice but anytime they were trying to restrain him he resisted. To me that calls for further action. Not only was he combative in the household but also at the hospital. He was at the hospital for before experiencing the seizures not to mention the time he was resisting. He also had acute psychosis. I'm sure everyone know what thta is. He could have been experiencing thought disorders and such at the moment. We have NO clue and neither did the officers. I don't see where the use of the tasers was the "without a doubt" cause of the death. There seems to be too many other factors and little facts that lead to the medical examiners cunclusion.

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:40 AM
To B&E: Disagreed but as everyone has stated your entitled to your own opinion....right or wrong. I do feel that it was an absolutely useless statment that shows the truth behind a COMPLETELY seperate topic.

Posted by: Hal Location: Pitt on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Bertie Mom: OK, lets just assume the big bad cops didn't just taser him for the heck of it. Lets say he was resisting being taken into custody for this involuntary commitment. By the way, involuntary commitments requuire handcuffing the person. Lets say he was refusing to be handcuffed. How do you think the officers should have responded? Should they have fought with him physically? What if he died then? Whose fault? Should they have just left the house and came back another day? Then what if he hurt himself or someone else? Whose fault then? Cops again right?

Posted by: B&E on Nov 19, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Obama gone get this strait. Lawmans cant pick on black peples no more

Posted by: FANG Location: WINDOSR on Nov 19, 2008 at 08:52 AM
TO J : As I have read autopsy report ; Number 1, how can this be publisized over a media channel w/out violating countless privacy policies / hippa w or w/out the families permission and Number 2, I see the toxicology report says no evidence of cocaine and or any other drugs but caffiene in his sytem. I am a very avid believer in the taser for use in law enforcement, but still again we are seeing how this device can and will cause unreversable damage to a human being. Seziure it says? Atropine? Code? More restraints being used in the hospital? Though the ME wrote it off as natural causes, this young mans death was clearly started with the use of non lethal force ie : taser / restraints. Is there not a protocol for the # of times u can effectively and safely tase a suspect and or person? Check out the autopsy where it states the number of marks on the kids body - sounds like more than one taser being used to me but again that is my personal opinion / as everyone is entitled to have ;

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Nov 19, 2008 at 08:50 AM
Too much of anything can take your life. That's just common sense. I think what ANON said makes sense for the most part. I don'tthink with that condition he would have necessarily died on the spot but it surely didn't increase his chances of living. There was absolutely no way for the officers to know that. Also there is no way we can determine what it took to subdue the man. None of us were there to testify what the situation was. For all we know there is some behind the secenes action that could have taken place by either side of the situation. Regardless of the fact it is still a sad situation.

Posted by: Annoyed Location: Windsor, NC on Nov 19, 2008 at 08:30 AM
I get sick of people knocking cops. They are out there putting their life on the line daily, making small money for a huge job. I admire cops, and am thankful that they protect us from people who do stupid things. This patient has a history, look him up on NC Dept of Corrections. He has been arrested multiple times for drugs and resisting arrest. Let's not make a violent criminal out to be a victim. In this case, the police are the victims. They are the ones taking the brutality here. This man had mental health issues (long standing), and there is nothing more powerful than an actively psychotic patient. Thank you police officers, my condolences to the family. This man could have injured countless people on his rampage. Please, know all of the information before you bully the police. The autopsy is the definitive word. Please stop making this a conspiracy theory. I am sorry that this happened, please don't blame the cops.

Posted by: Bertie citizen Location: To Anon on Nov 19, 2008 at 08:19 AM
Anon, what you just said makes no sense whatsoever. There aren't many things in life that cause immediate death, especially a taser. This man collapsed after the 4th taser, so if he died from being psychotic why did he collapse after a 4th taser?

Posted by: Anon Location: Greenville on Nov 19, 2008 at 01:53 AM
Acute psychosis can cause extreme hallucinations and 'loss of contact with reality'. When this takes place it can put high stress on the heart and central nervous system, which my result in cardiovascular collapse. It is almost a disease of the central nervous system which controls the heart. It happens to physically healthy people with this condition. A taser emits an electrical pulse and would have caused immediate death if it was the cause. It is just easier for people to blame the taser, because most can't comprehend the medical cause.

Posted by: bertie_ mom Location: Windsor, NC on Nov 19, 2008 at 01:22 AM
Hal - Are you serious? This man was not some violent criminal who the police needed to bring down for their own safety; he was a man whose family thought he was acting strange and who had the sheriffs come out to have him committed... his family, acting in good faith, thinking the law could protect this man, but who instead failed him in the worst possible way. Now, I have the utmost respect for the law, and I am not one of those crazies who blames law enforcement for everything that goes wrong, but in this instance, the sheriff's deputies responding to this call WAY overstepped their bounds. A man is dead of so-called cardiovascular attack at 29 years old less than an hour after being tasered FOUR times... what does that tell you? The taser brought on the attack. This man was not armed, he was not on drugs, he was not a threat to the deputies. Now he is dead. Quite the tragedy, and it saddens me that nothing will likely be done against the officers responsible.

Posted by: J Location: To: Fang on Nov 18, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Read the autopsy report, page 9.. And he was not a kid as you propose. Clarence Smith was an adult that made his own decisions.

Posted by: Lawyer Location: Greenville-Lawyer on Nov 18, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Folks, stop whining about tasers. If you dont comply with an officer they have the right to taser you, it is a tool that is allowed by law to be used against an individual who is non compliant, and there is no limit on the amount of shocks until the violator becomes compliant. So, for those of you with little education and , lawsuit happy, get on with your life and stop being a judge when you dont have a clue.

Posted by: Hal Location: Pitt on Nov 18, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Sad story for all. We need to remember that law enforcement has violent interactions with people everyday. People get hurt, and people die. It is real life, not t.v. I would like to see a study on how many lives the taser saves. The taser is perhaps the best tool for law enforcement that has ever been invented. It no doubt saves lives everyday in situations where police would have had to fire their weapons just a few years ago. It doesn't make for good news when the officer tasers a person armed with a knife instead of shooting him....but it happens all the time. People have died before after being pepper sprayed, hit with a night stick, or physically subdued by officers. Maybe the only tool cops should have is a gun. If you resist, or don't obey a command, the cops could just shoot them. Lets see how that goes over...Thank you for doing what you do officers. Condolences to Mr. Smith's family.

Posted by: robert Location: grimesland on Nov 18, 2008 at 08:09 PM
you know the lawmen used to know how to catch someone without the new electric toys they have now. where are the rubber bullets?

Posted by: me Location: here on Nov 18, 2008 at 07:00 PM
People don't get tazed for no reason. Repeated cocaine or any drug use WILL damage your body's organs and keep them from working properly. This is a sad situation, but maybe others will LEARN from this experience. No one should be blamed.

Posted by: FANG Location: WINDSOR on Nov 18, 2008 at 05:37 PM
I wanna know what this kid did to get tazed!

Posted by: Blog Refuter Location: NC on Nov 18, 2008 at 05:12 PM
If he had a weak heart, I could see this as contributing to his death. Campus police had tased an unruly, intoxicated young man last week 3 times, and he was fine after evaluation at the ER. I believe it all depends on the vitality of one's heart.

Posted by: Curt Location: Snow Hill on Nov 18, 2008 at 05:03 PM
The autopsy says several years ago Smith nearly died of a drug overdose when "he tried to hide some cocaine in his rectum." I mean come on people ... And I am sure that he did nothing to get tased !! Cops dont tase you for no reason !!

Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Nov 18, 2008 at 05:01 PM
Yep, 29 year olds just naturally quit breathing everyday. A good family lawyer could ask for an independent autopsy. This doesn't sound right.

Posted by: Kathy Location: Washington on Nov 18, 2008 at 04:40 PM
Cardiac collapse due to psychosis? You can't be serious. If that was the case, half the crazy people walking around would just drop dead. This is a smoke-screen for folks who know nothing of the medical profession. This man had a cardiac collapse because his heart couldn't take four tazes....most people can't take that many. This is the most incredibly stupid thing I have ever heard. Somebody needs to do a psych eval on the coroner. How absurd!!!

Posted by: Dwayne Location: Greenville on Nov 18, 2008 at 04:38 PM
I guess pepper spray isn't so bad after all. Didn't the same kind of report come from the SBI regarding a man that died in similar fashion in Greenville? Hummmm.

Posted by: wow Location: bertie on Nov 18, 2008 at 03:33 PM
NOW HOW BOUT THAT???

Posted by: LJ Location: Windsor NC on Nov 18, 2008 at 03:31 PM
ARE YOU SERIOUS?

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