State Police Investigation Taser Death of 15-year-old

State Police said Monday they have started an investigation into the death of a 15-year-old Tasered by Bay City police officers who were trying to break up a fight between him and another male at an apartment.

City police placed one officer on administrative leave, said Deputy Chief Thomas Pletzke.

"This is a very tragic event," said police Chief Michael Cecchini. He said his department would conduct an internal investigation into whether the officer followed policy when using the Taser.

Police didn't immediately release the teen's name, but the Bay City Times identified him as Brett Elder.

A Bay City Police news release said officers answered a report of a fight about 3:40 a.m. Sunday. Two males were arguing in an apartment, and one of them "attempted to fight the officers," the statement said.

"The male subject was then Tasered and taken into custody," it said. "Medical personnel were summoned immediately due to the subject's reactions."

He was pronounced dead at Bay Regional Medical Center.

"He was flopping around and looked like a fish out of water. That's the only way to explain it -- his whole body was bent over," Cindy Hernden, Elder's aunt, told WNEM-TV.

Hernden said Elder tried to punch one of the officers, but she said the use of a Taser was excessive, contending her nephew already was in handcuffs. Pletzke disputed the statement, saying Elder was not handcuffed when he was hit with the Taser.

An autopsy was planned Monday, but tests for alcohol and drugs were expected to take several days.

Police said they arrested a relative of the teen at the hospital on accusations of assaulting a police officer there and of resisting and obstructing police. Charges were expected Monday.

Elder had been attending Wenona High School, an alternative school, for about three weeks. He attended Bay City Central High School earlier this school year.

"He was a pleasant enough young man," Wenona Principal Jerry Lombardo said.

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More Information: http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=6726247