Man Dies in Haifa After Police Use Taser During Disturbance

A 36-year-old man died in Haifa early Tuesday morning after police officers used a taser on him during an incident involving a public disturbance. According to the police, officers deployed the taser to restore order after the man was reportedly "disrupting the peace" near a pizza shop. The man, a resident of Nahariya, was transported to Rambam Hospital in critical condition and underwent resuscitation efforts, but was pronounced dead there. Medical officials stated that no external injuries were visible on the man's body. The Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, from the initial report to the man's hospitalization. Medical sources present at the scene reported that the man was handcuffed but conscious upon their arrival. They also noted that he received "several electric shocks" during the incident, and his condition deteriorated minutes later. One medical official described the collapse as not immediate, stating, "After five minutes, the patient slowly collapsed." The incident began with a report to the municipal hotline about a person "raging and making a mess" near a pizza parlor on Hanita Street. Municipal patrol officers responded and, observing the situation, called for police assistance. Police stated that the officers who arrived attempted to speak with the man before resorting to the taser to restore order. The cause of death is currently unknown, and no definitive medical link has been established between the taser use and the man's collapse. The report also references a 2014 State Comptroller's report that highlighted significant deficiencies in police and internal security ministry procedures regarding the use of tasers, noting ambiguity about whether the device was considered non-lethal or a firearm. The comptroller's report also indicated that a low percentage of civilian complaints regarding taser use resulted in disciplinary or criminal action against officers.