By FOX Carolina Staff
GREENVILLE, S.C.The Greenville County coroner's office ruled Tuesday that the August death of a man who was shocked with a Taser during a scuffle with police is a homicide.
On Aug. 9, two Greenville police officers went to the home of Andrew Torres to serve him with involuntary commitment papers when police said he became combative. Officers said they eventually were forced to shock Torres with a Taser.
Greenville Police Chief Terri Wilfong said that one officer suffered minor injuries during the struggle. Torres was also injured and was taken to the hospital, where he died.
On Tuesday, investigators with the coroner's office said test results revealed that Torres suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia, due to an enlarged heart. They said that prolonged physical exertion, possibly related to the altercation with police, contributed to his death.
Investigators said that the altercation likely resulted in the release of "fight-or-flight" hormones, resulting in the fatal cardiac arrhythmia.
The coroner's office said the death was ruled a homicide because it is the legal term, whether lawful or unlawful, for the killing of one person by another.
The findings have been forwarded to the State Law Enforcement Division and the solicitor's office to decide if charges will be filed against the officers, Dale Dirton, Kevin Hill and Eric Koepke.
Copyright 2010 by foxcarolina.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Got a story idea? E-mail news tips to foxcarolinanews@foxcarolina.com or call the newsroom 24/7 at 864-213-2121.
