Police are investigating after a man died following being Tasered multiple times on Sunday.
Officers were called out after reports of a man violently assaulting an elderly person in Auckland's Freemans Bay, police say.
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"The male offender had smashed a car window of a nearby parked car and was observed kicking the victim in the head several times as he lay unconscious," Superintendent Karyn Malthus says.
"The officers instructed the offender to move out of the way, which he refused to do and moved aggressively towards them."
The offender 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," Supt 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."
The man was taken to hospital, where he passed away on Wednesday morning.
"Police are engaged with the deceased's family and are supporting them as we work to establish the circumstances surrounding what happened that day," Supt Malthus says.
"Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the assault and the death in custody. The matter has been referred to the coroner, Worksafe New Zealand and the Independent Police Conduct Authority."
Newshub.
