Man dies after German police use Taser on him

BERLIN

A man died in Dortmund, Germany on Wednesday night after police used a Taser on him.

Eyewitnesses in the city in North Rhine-Westphalia told daily Ruhr Nachrichten that the man had first called for help, then lashed out and allegedly damaged cars. He also allegedly attacked a passerby who offered to help.

After the police came, the man allegedly attacked a police car and hit the windshield. He also reportedly overpowered a police officer and tried to flee in the police car.

Police then used the Taser electroshock weapon on the man, and he collapsed.

According to police, emergency personnel immediately began resuscitation, and an emergency physician continued resuscitation efforts, but the man died after being taken to the hospital.

Dortmund prosecutors are investigating the incident.

The death follows an Aug. 8 incident in Dortmund when a 16-year-old refugee from Senegal was shot dead by police after the Taser was found ineffective.

The teen is said to have been armed with a knife, but it is unclear whether he used it to threaten police. The police officers' bodycams were switched off. Prosecutors are also investigating that case.