Man from Mendicino Dies After Being Tasered

A man who was stunned twice with tasers by Mendocino County law enforcement officers Monday night during a fight later died, reported sheriff's officials Tuesday.

The man wasn't identified, pending notification of his family, said Lt. Rusty Noe.

The two officers involved, a sheriff's sergeant and a Ukiah police sergeant, were both placed on standard paid administrative leaving pending an investigation.

The incident started at about 8:30 p.m. when the man approached the sheriff's sergeant, who was parked on South State Street in Ukiah, Noe said.

The sergeant reported that the man struck him in the face and head several times and as the sergeant attempted to stop the man, he pulled out his taser and hit the man, who fell to the ground, Noe said.

The man continued to fight, however, and when a Ukiah police sergeant arrived, he fought with both officers. The Ukiah sergeant then used his taser on the man and he was taken into custody.

The man quit breathing and was taken to Ukiah Valley Medical Center. He died at the hospital.

The Mendocino County District Attorney's Office is leading an investigation into the death.

Law enforcement officials said they would not identify the two officers because of the pending investigation.