Authorities ID Man Electrically Shocked By Torrance Police

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA – Authorities Thursday released the name of a man who died after being electrically shocked by Torrance police, who responded to a report of a knife-wielding suspect throwing items inside a Crate & Barrel housewares store.

Officers were sent to the store at 21710 Hawthorne Blvd. about 2:30 p.m. Monday. The man, identified by the coroner's office as 34-year-old Deautry Ross, refused police officers' commands and ran, but they tackled him, said Torrance police Sgt. Ronald Harris.

During a scuffle with the officers, Ross tried to remove one of their handguns. He was shot with a stun gun and had his arms and legs restrained, Harris said.

"A check of the area revealed narcotic paraphernalia and a knife," the sergeant said.

Harris said Ross, whose place of residence was unknown, had trouble breathing once he was detained. Paramedics were summoned and transported Ross to a local hospital. About 45 minutes later, the police department was advised that he had died, Harris said.

An autopsy was pending, the coroner's office reported.

Torrance police asked anyone with any information on the case to call them at (310) 618-5570.

City News Service; Image via Shutterstock