A suspect in a drug-dealing operation who ran away from police died after a police officer chased him down and shot him with a Taser, authorities said.
The 22-year-old Boulder County resident stopped breathing and was taken to a Lafayette hospital but was pronounced dead about 8 p.m. Friday, Lafayette police Sgt. Fred Palmer said in a news release.
Authorities have not released the man’s name pending notification of his family.
On Saturday, the suspect’s uncle questioned the use of the Taser by police.
“He’s not a very intimidating kid,” the uncle said. “The end result in this case just doesn’t fit the crime.”
The Boulder Drug Task Force and Louisville police were working on a drug operation when the suspect started running about 7 p.m. near Paschel Drive and Waneka Lake, Palmer said.
A Lafayette police officer spotted the suspect in a field north of South Boulder Road and started to chase him in his squad car, he said.
The officer drove in front of the suspect, got out of the patrol car and ordered the man to stop, Palmer said.
The suspect kept running as the officer yelled at him to stop. After a short foot chase, the suspect turned around and took an aggressive stance when the police officer fired the Taser, Palmer said.
The suspect collapsed, Palmer said. He was taken to Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette.
The suspect’s uncle, who did not want to give his name until all family members were notified, said his nephew was an unemployed plumber who had a few run-ins with the law.
He was about 6 feet tall and 130 pounds, the uncle said.
The cause of death is under investigation, Palmer said.
Lafayette police did not return phone calls for comment. It was not known what action, if any, was taken against the officer who fired the Taser.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
