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In loving memory
William Sage Berger
United States · Aged 34 · Died 06/06/2013
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How they died
Less-than-lethal force
When answering a call on William Sage Berger being disorderly in a gym, Deputy Steve Paynter approached him in the street and tasered him. Berger, who was having a manic episode, ran and allegedly resisted. Deputy Shawn Audie arrived and Berger was tasered 2-4 times. While the three struggled, Audie put Berger in two lateral vascular neck restraints (sleeper holds). After Berger was handcuffed he became unresponsive. He never regained consciousness. The autopsy report found Berger died from"hypoxic encephalopathy due to cardiac arrest with resuscitation due to application of restraint measures by law enforcement personnel including neck compression due to mania with physical agitation." A wrongful death lawsuit brought by Berger's family was unsuccessful.
Alleged responsible partySpokane County Sheriff's OfficeReported by the cited sources. “Alleged” is used pending verification.
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This record exists so that William Sage Berger, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.
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