In October 2009, Taser International advised all law enforcement officers not to shoot Taser X-26 probes into an individual’s chest area and apply the 50,000 volts, warning that this course of action may cause cardiac arrest.

Apparently, certain Natchitoches deputies never saw that memo.

Twenty-two year-old Anthony Demery was arrested on misdemeanor charges in Natchitoches Parish. During pre-trial incarceration, Demery was placed in a shower and hit by Taser probes in his chest area.

Demery fell, slumped over and gasped for air. While CPR and oxygen should have been administered immediately to him, they were not. When nurses finally came on the scene, they were untrained and administered CPR sporadically and improperly. They were unable to operate an AED defibrillator device and the oxygen tank was locked and unavailable until much later, which was too late for Anthony Demery.

Demery died as a result of the Taser probes shot in his chest.

The Sheriff Department deputies and nurses failed to supply immediate after-care to Demery and otherwise ignored an unconscious Demery as he lay of the floor in agony.

The Sheriff had failed to train, supervise and discipline the deputies and nurse staff who were inept as shown on jail video that was obtained by Glenn McGovern early in the case.

Glenn McGovern represented Margaret Demery, mother of Anthony Demery, and settled the case in mediation for $400,000 against the deputies and Sheriff.

The father’s claim was not settled and is pending in the federal court.