Nashville man dies after being stunned with Taser

Patrick Aaron Lee, 21, died Saturday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after Officer Jonathan Mays and Officer Jamie Scruggs used their Tasers to restrain him late Friday outside the Mercy Lounge nightclub, police spokesman Don Aaron said in a release.

Both officers remain on duty, but their Tasers have been confiscated for the investigation, which is being handled by the police department’s homicide and professional accountability units, he said.

“This department deployed Tasers on an evaluation basis last November,” Nashville Police Chief Ronal Serpas said. “For now, that evaluation will continue as we look very closely at this particular situation in relation to our Taser policy and training.”

Police were called to the Mercy Lounge when employees threw Lee out for acting strangely and repeatedly trying to get on the club’s stage.

After being confronted by Officer Christopher Brooks, Lee allegedly removed all his clothes and ran around the club’s parking lot. Aaron said Mays used his Taser on Lee when he began acting combative and refused to comply with Brooks’ order to get down on the ground.

As the officers tried to handcuff Lee, he got back to his feet and tried to flee, Aaron said. Scruggs and Mays fired their Tasers several more times, as well as used batons and pepper spray, before they were able to get Lee in custody, he said.

Lee told officers while in custody that he was under the influence of either LSD or PCP. As medics evaluated Lee, he went into cardiac and respiratory distress.

An autopsy is planned to determine the exact cause of death.

“This matter still has questions that must be answered, most importantly by the medical examiner,” Serpas said.