Man Dies in Haifa After Police Use Taser During Disturbance
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A 36-year-old man died in Haifa after police used a taser on him.
- The incident began with a report of a man disturbing the peace near a pizza shop.
- Police stated they used the taser to restore order after attempts to de-escalate failed.
- The man was hospitalized and later pronounced dead; cause of death is undetermined.
- The Police Internal Investigations Department is investigating the circumstances.
- A past comptroller's report noted issues with taser use protocols.
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, described as an "electric pistol" that fires small darts delivering electrical pulses for temporary, supposedly non-lethal incapacitation, to restore order.
The man, a resident of Nahariya, was taken to Rambam Hospital while undergoing resuscitation efforts, where his death was subsequently pronounced. The Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, from the initial report to the hospital transfer.
Medical sources involved in the man's treatment told N12 that upon their arrival, the individual was handcuffed but conscious, with no visible external injuries. They reported that he received "several electric shocks" during the incident, and his condition deteriorated minutes later. One medical official noted that the collapse was 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 shop on Hanita Street. Municipal patrol officers responded, and after assessing the situation, called for police assistance. Police stated that the responding officers attempted to speak with the man, who was observed to be disturbing the peace, before resorting to the taser to restore order.
The cause of death is currently unknown, and no medical determination has been made linking the taser use to the man's collapse. The report also references a 2014 State Comptroller's report that highlighted significant deficiencies in the police and Ministry of Interior's handling of taser use, noting ambiguity regarding whether the device was considered non-lethal or a firearm. The report also indicated that a low percentage of civilian complaints regarding taser use resulted in disciplinary or criminal action against officers.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Left 1Centre 3Right 3Haredi 1Arab 1Other 2
