Stephen Romulo Cherry

Less-than-lethal force

Police responded to reports of a man yelling and acting violently inside a home. Officers encountered Stephen Romulo Cherry yelling and breaking items in an apartment. Police said Cherry was "bleeding profusely" from cuts on his body, possibly from breaking out windows. Officers called paramedics because they believed the man "was in an altered state and in need of medical assistance." Officers attempted to gain physical control of Cherry to stop him from harming himself. During the struggle, one officer used a Taser in "drive stun" mode on Cherry. Shortly afterward, Cherry became unresponsive and died. Coroner said Cherry died because of advanced heart disease and methamphetamine toxicity.