Stun Gun Death In High Desert Under Investigation By Riverside County Coroner

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau is conducting an autopsy on a 46-year-old man who died after San Bernardino County law enforcement deployed a stun gun on him.

The out-of-county autopsy could help fend off allegations of conflict of interest that might arise as part of possible legal action in the case.

Few details have been publicly released about the stun gun shooting. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, at approximately 7:41 p.m. Sunday its deputies were summoned to the 15400 block of Lindero Street in Victorville about a man "who was acting erratic and violent with family members."

When deputies arrived, they found Blair sitting in a vehicle in the home's driveway.

"Blair appeared to be under the influence of drugs and emergency medical aid was requested to help him," according to the sheriff's department.

During deputies' interaction with Blair, "he became uncooperative, exited the vehicle, and advanced toward a deputy," according to the sheriff's department.

Blair was struck by at least one stun gun; it's unclear how many deputies may have fired at him.

Deputies then detained Blair, and he was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

"The Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division responded and assumed the investigation," the sheriff's department reported. "An autopsy will be done in Riverside County to determine the cause of death."

A stun gun is a less-lethal, not non-lethal, weapon used by law enforcement. A study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation found that stun guns can cause "ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac arrest and even death."

Medical conditions or use of illegal drugs can significantly heighten these risks, according to USA Amnesty International.

An extensive Reuters report published in 2017 found that 1,081 people in the U.S. died after they were hit with police stun guns. The report found stun guns were ruled to be a cause or contributing factor in 163 of those deaths.