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(KSL News/AP) -- A Salt Lake City man died after police allegedly used a Taser to subdue him during a struggle.
Mel White, Al Itula's Stepdaughter: "He was on his hands and knees, and all I can hear him say is I didn't do nothing."
Police used pepper spray, their sticks, and their tasers to put Al Itula on the ground. All along, he was telling officers he didn't do anything.
It all happened so fast. One minute Mel White was playing with her step-father Al Itula, the next minute he's gone.
Mel White, Al Itula's Stepdaughter: ""I was just telling them to stop because he's already on the ground."
Penina Itula, Al Itula's Wife: "I could see their foot on the back of his neck."
According to a police spokeperson, on Friday two officers were near Iona Street, west of downtown Salt Lake City, between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. when they spotted the man and tried to arrest Itula on an outstanding warrant. Itula fled on foot and then fought with police, she said.
Officers first used pepper spray and batons to try to subdue Itula. They also called for two additional officers. But when Itula continued to fight, a Taser was used, department spokeswoman Robin Snyder said.
She did not know if multiple Tasers were used or how many times the man may have been hit.
Itula's family has a different account of what happened.
Penina Itula, Al Itula's Wife: "He was on his right knee on the ground, and they just hit him, they kept hitting his leg, and then they tasered him again."
Mel White, Al Itula's Stepdaughter: "Al was yelling to him, I can't breathe, and he's like if you're talking, you can breathe, so hush and be quiet."
The family also says after Itula was tasered and on the ground in handcuffs, police still beat him.
Penina Itula, Al Itula's Wife: "A female officer ran and he was by the fence, and she just kicked him on the side of his head."
Mel White, Al Itula's Stepdaughter: "He was already handcuffed, and she started stomping on him."
Det. Robin Snyder, Salt Lake City Police Dept.: "He resisted and then they attempted to take him into custody, and he continued to fight for quite a while."
But his family says they never saw Itula fight back.
Officers saw Itula in distress and called for paramedics, who administered CPR. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, Snyder said.
It was later learned that the warrant issued for Itula had been revoked by the courts, Snyder said.
"They'll have to sort that out during the investigation," Snyder said. "It's not clear why he ran."
According to the family, Itula was only running because he didn't trust police. He's had run-ins with them before, which the family admits, but say it's no reason to die.
Penina Itula, Al Itula's Wife: "I mean, Al is by no means not perfect, but I don't think any human being, I don't care what he's done, I just don't think he deserved what happened last night."
All four officers suffered minor injuries during the incident, she said.
Four Salt Lake City Police Department gang officers have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of the incident, which happened Friday, department spokeswoman Robin Snyder said.
Investigations will be conducted by Salt Lake City's internal affairs and homicide offices, as well as the Salt Lake County's District Attorney's office.
An autopsy will be conducted by the State Medical Examiner's Office, Snyder said.
Tasers, which deliver a 50,000-volt shock, are used by police departments as an alternative to firearms. The weapon is marketed by its manufacturer, Taser International of Arizona, as a non-lethal device. It is believed to be used by more than 5,000 police departments nationwide, including dozens of Utah agencies.
In January, Salt Lake City announced it would expand its use of the stun-guns, which for the past few years have only been carried by SWAT or gang unit members. The department said it would give the weapons to its 140 patrol officers, but also tighten guidelines for Taser use.
The city's policy allows Tasers to be used only when a dangerous or violent subject aggressively resists or attempts to flee.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story)
