Civil Liberties

Nonviolent Man Dies After Phoenix Police Taser Him on His Own Roof

His horrified neighbors recorded the incident

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PHOENIX — Police arrived at an apartment complex to help a man off a roof who later died in custody, prompting an investigation into the officers' tactics.

Video taken by witnesses show 44-year-old Michael Angel Ruiz on the roof of his apartment building and police trying to talk the man down. Police then used a TASER to subdue him, according to ABC15.

Ruiz jumped down from the roof and was quickly surrounded by police — who carried him down the stairs in handcuffs. Video shows his unsupported head hitting the stairs repeatedly on the way down.

Ruiz's father, Richard Erickson , told KPHO that an EMS report stated his son was TASERed five times and needed to be resuscitated.