Parents Of Man Killed with Taser In Custody This Week Speak Out

Parents Of Man Killed In Custody Speak Out

POSTED: 4:58 pm PDT August 4, 2005
UPDATED: 6:08 pm PDT August 4, 2005

The parents of a man who died in a struggle with San Jose police
officers are speaking out against the use of Taser guns. Police say
they used a Taser gun, pepper spray and a baton to try and subdue Brian
Patrick O'Neal.

NBC11's Daniel Garza spoke to O'Neal's parents, who question the amount
of force used during the struggle.

Benjamin O'Neal and Mary Jefferies recall their son's childhood, which
held out so much promise.

"He was a beautiful child -- very sensitive and caring about his
family," his mother said.

But as an adult, the 32-year-old's life was troubled.

His father told NBC11, "He was always willing to help anybody at
anytime. He did have an alcoholic problem." O'Neal did have a history
of arrests for being under the influence.

Court records indicate O'Neal was arrested at a 7-Eleven in December
and spent six months in jail. He had recently been released. His
parents say he was living on the streets.

On Monday, police say he ran away from officers after he got into a
scuffle with a man at an AM/PM Mini Mart on Monterey Road.

Five officers say O'Neal resisted arrest as he tried to scale a fence a
half block from the store.

Officers tried to use a device called a "wrap" to pin O'Neal's arms and
legs against his body.

O'Neal died at a hospital.

His parents say they are devastated.

The coroner has yet to determine the cause of death, but his parents
blame the Taser gun.

The police chief says the Taser gun has been successful because it
reduces injuries to officers trying to arrest combative suspects.

O'Neal's parents say they'll never know if their son would have turned
his life around.

http://www.nbc11.com/news/4811916/detail.html