William Sage Berger

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.