Police have named the man who died in Auckland after being Tasered multiple times by police. He was Alo Ngata, a 29-year-old man from Tonga.
His family are paying tribute to their loved one on social media, who they describe as a "coo as dude [sic]" and "very brave, caring young soldier".
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According to his Facebook, Ngata studied "Criminology" at Tangaroa College. He was arrested on Sunday allegedly violently assaulting an elderly person in Auckland's Freemans Bay. Police say he was found kicking the victim in the head several times as he lay unconscious.
Ngata then "lunged" towards the officers before he was Tasered multiple times.
"During the arrest process the offender violently struggled, which required two more back-up officers to assist to apply necessary restraints and a spit hood," Superintendent Karyn Malthus says.
"The offender was transported to the Auckland Police Custody Unit in an agitated state and continued resisting police efforts to remove restraints.
"The offender's condition began to deteriorate while in custody and police were required to perform CPR until an ambulance arrived."
He was taken to hospital, where he passed away on Wednesday morning.
Lawyer Marie Dyhrberg told The AM Show says Ngata was likely part of a vulnerable group - people with mental health issues or on drugs where a Taser can interfere with their heart.
Most people stop when a Taser is withdrawn, but Ms Dyhrberg says the fact the person who died did not means they were likely one of the vulnerable group susceptible to tasering.
"The vulnerable people are the ones who are beyond comprehending, they cannot see or perceive the situation as it is and whatever world they're living in, it's fight or flight or whatever," she said.
Newshub.
