CONWAY, Ark. (AP) — An investigation has been launched after a 39-year-old man died shortly after Conway police used a stun gun on him while responding to a shoplifting report at a grocery store.
Conway officers responded Tuesday afternoon to a grocery store to investigate a shoplifting report, Arkansas State Police said Wednesday. Once there, the officers were led to two people who were suspected of removing items from their packaging, state police spokesman Bill Sadler.
One of those people, Lionel Morris, tried to run away but was caught by officers who then tried to place him in custody, Sadler said. During the struggle, officers used a stun gun on Morris to subdue him.
Morris became unresponsive after he was handcuffed and he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Sadler said.
Conway police spokeswoman LaTresha Woodruff told the Log Cabin Democrat that Arkansas State Police will head the investigation into the death. She declined to say whether any officers had been put on leave.
