Jason Allen Watts

Less-than-lethal force

Police first made contact with Jason Watts at a 7-Eleven store. Two people, including the store clerk, had called 911 about 11:45 p.m. after Watts refused to leave the store. Watts, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs, had also called 911 to report that people outside the shop were threatening to shoot him. When officers arrived, Watts refused to leave the store, ran behind the clerk's counter and refused to comply with orders from police. Collum said police tried to talk with Watts in an attempt to calm him, but, during the conversation, Watts punched a cash register and lifted it "as though preparing to throw it at officers." Four officers used a taser on Watts, who was then restrained with the WRAP, a system made up of a stiff nylon blanket and straps that immobilizes the subject. A dozen hours later, Watts died in custody. His cause of death was determined to be methamphetamine intoxication and excited delirium.