SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 7, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- TASER International, Inc. (Nasdaq:TASR), a market leader in advanced electronic control devices (ECDs), released the following NEWS ALERT:
According to two reports from Pioneer Press in St. Paul, MN, the Anoka County medical examiner stated that drugs, stress and a bad heart were the causes that killed Mark C. Backlund after he crashed his car on Interstate 694 in New Brighton, MN, on January 15, 2008. Backlund died of "consequences of mixed drug use," according to information on the death certificate filed on April 4, 2008. Besides cocaine, he had Tramadol, Quetiapine, Lamotrigine, Buspirone and Cannabinoids in his system, the report said.
The death certificate did not mention the use of a TASER(r) Electronic Control Device (ECD) by Minnesota State Patrol troopers on Backlund as a cause of death of the 29-year-old man. Many in the media, as well as several other groups were quick to wrongly assume that the TASER devices contributed to Backlund's death.
Backlund was on his way to pick up his parents from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport when his car slammed into the median on I-694. According to the police report, after the accident, Backlund physically assaulted troopers and tried to flee the scene while bystanders were in front of his damaged vehicle. A TASER ECD was used to subdue him after the troopers' attempts to restrain him with their hands had failed.
The complete articles are available at: http://origin.twincities.com/life/ci_8815802 and http://origin.twincities.com//ci_8813228?IADID
This information was compiled through publicly available media reports and distributed by TASER International, Inc. of Scottsdale, Arizona.
TASER International disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy of the media. The reports are the sole responsibility of the attributed media source.
For more information on protecting life with TASER technology, please visit: http://www.TASER.com.
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