A man who died after Jamestown police used a stun gun to subdue him died as a result of acute intoxication from drugs, the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Charles A. “Ditty” Baker Jr., 30, was taken into custody shortly after noon Feb. 16, after the vehicle in which he was traveling was pulled over for a minor traffic violation and the driver gave police a false name. Baker allegedly tried to dispose of several bags of suspected cocaine while in custody.
Police said Baker was combative with officers while being booked and was subdued with a single shot from a Taser electrical stun gun.
Hours later, Baker suffered a seizure and was taken to WCA Hospital, Jamestown, where he suffered another seizure and died. An autopsy was performed two days later in the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office.
According to District Attorney David W. Foley, the final autopsy report identified acute drug intoxication as the cause of death. The autopsy report noted “very high (toxic/lethal) levels of cocaine and the narcotic drug tramadol in the blood,” Foley said.
The death was ruled accidental, said Foley, adding that the investigation into Baker’s death has been closed.
The State Commission of Correction opened a routine, independent review of Baker’s death after being notified by Jamestown police. A commission spokeswoman said Thursday the review was continuing.
email: jhabuda@buffnews.com
Charles A. “Ditty” Baker Jr., 30, was taken into custody shortly after noon Feb. 16, after the vehicle in which he was traveling was pulled over for a minor traffic violation and the driver gave police a false name. Baker allegedly tried to dispose of several bags of suspected cocaine while in custody.
Police said Baker was combative with officers while being booked and was subdued with a single shot from a Taser electrical stun gun.
Hours later, Baker suffered a seizure and was taken to WCA Hospital, Jamestown, where he suffered another seizure and died. An autopsy was performed two days later in the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office.
According to District Attorney David W. Foley, the final autopsy report identified acute drug intoxication as the cause of death. The autopsy report noted “very high (toxic/lethal) levels of cocaine and the narcotic drug tramadol in the blood,” Foley said.
The death was ruled accidental, said Foley, adding that the investigation into Baker’s death has been closed.
The State Commission of Correction opened a routine, independent review of Baker’s death after being notified by Jamestown police. A commission spokeswoman said Thursday the review was continuing.
email: jhabuda@buffnews.com