Editorial: Probe will shed light on death in jail
What we know is that a 38-year-old inmate in the Guilford County jail in Greensboro died after being Tasered by a guard during an altercation. And that's all we know.
Only after thorough investigations by the N.C. State Medical Examiner's Office and the State Bureau of Investigation will what happened and why come into focus.
According to the Guilford County Sheriff's Office, Ronald Eugene Cobbs scuffled with detention personnel late Tuesday night during a search for contraband. He allegedly resisted and assaulted an officer, who then shot him with a Taser.
Following departmental policy, Cobbs was seen by an on-duty nurse. He became unconscious and was taken by EMS to Moses Cone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Law enforcement's use of Tasers that temporarily immobilize with a 50,000-volt electric shock remains controversial. When used properly, proponents say, they're a more humane way to subdue a person than nightsticks or pepper spray. Their use can be especially effective in jails where crowded and stressful conditions can ignite tempers that explode in conflict.
But critics counter that too little is known about both a Taser's short- and long-term effects. The instant immobilization, they contend, can result in falls that cause serious injury.
Generally speaking, Tasers, sometimes called stun guns, are used sparingly here. Earlier this month, the sheriff's office reported that from January to June of this year only 11 of 114 reported use-of-force incidents at the Greensboro and High Point jails involved Tasers. And until Tuesday, neither the jails nor patrol division ever had a fatality associated with one.
However, it's worth noting that the downsides are enough for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to ban, at least for now, their use in local detention facilities participating in the federal 287(g) program for housing immigration detainees.
Uppermost must be the safety of both inmates and jail employees. Sheriff BJ Barnes has said that the mere presence of Tasers in the county's jails helps defuse potential confrontations.
Other factors also must be considered. The jail was well over capacity Tuesday, and overcrowding only leads to trouble. Moving ahead promptly with construction of a new downtown facility is bound to help.
And Cobbs, who faced serious charges of kidnapping and robbery, reportedly had been in local custody for about a year. That's hardly in keeping with his right to a speedy trial.
Hopefully, the SBI's eventual findings in this case will lend clarity to both this tragedy and the broader Taser debate.
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