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Sandra Yi ReportingPolice are awaiting autopsy results of a man who died while being subdued by officers. Officers tased Al Itula at least twice, moments before he began suffering health problems.
Meantime, Salt Lake City Police are continuing taser training. About half of Salt Lake City's patrol officers have gone through taser training. Soon, all of them will have the device. That won't change because of what happened on Friday.
Salt Lake County Sheriff's deputies got to know what it feels like to be tased.
"My legs are shaking."
Salt Lake City Police Officers are getting similar training after Mayor Rocky Anderson recently approved a policy that will allow all certified patrol officers to carry the device. Historically, only SWAT team and gang unit members could carry tasers.
It was gang detectives who stopped to question Al Itula Friday night. He ran and began to fight with officers. They used pepper spray and a baton and then shocked him with a taser gun. They tased him again when he continued to fight. Itula began to have trouble breathing and died.
Officers believed Itula had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, but according to court documents, a judge recalled it on April 17th when Itula showed up for court. That hearing was part of a 2002 case, when Itula was charged with several misdemeanors, including failure to stop and respond at the command of a police officer.
The case dragged on for several years, in part because Itula failed to appear in court several times.
Police say Itula had a history of fighting and running from officers. Court documents also show pending cases involving drug charges and assault on an officer.
But on Saturday Itula's wife told Eyewitness News, that's no reason to die.
Penina Itula, Al Itula's Wife, Saturday: "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."
The investigation continues. It could take a couple of weeks for autopsy results to come back. Right now, the four officers involved are on paid administrative leave. Police say they don't plan to change any procedures or policies because of Friday's incident.
