In another story of domestic violence gone wrong, 65-year-old Nigerian, Balantine Mbegbu, has been reported dead after he was Tased by a Phoenix police officer on the night of October 6th in Phoenix Arizona.
While the widow, Ngozi Mbegbu, does not dispute that police were let inside the residence without resistance after a domestic violence call, she is standing with civil rights activists demanding answers.
"I really want to know why my husband was killed for doing nothing."
The man has two teenage children with his wife, and it is not clear at this moment who was involved in the fight that got the police called in.
AZFamily reports that the family said there was medication on the table so police should have known he was diabetic and using a Taser on him was a bad idea.
According to the family's attorney, Sabinus Megwa,
"They went to his home without a warrant. They asked him questions. He told them to leave his house. They refused to leave and at the end of the day they killed him."
Police have launched an internal investigation into the death . they say Balantine Mbegbu, a retired corrections officer, was out of control on that night.
They said he assaulted an officer and after more officers were called, they said.
"Mr. Mbegbu began to actively fight and violently resist arrest. He spilled hot liquid on the officers and kicked an officer in the groin."
That is when they used a Taser on him. Shortly after they said he went into medical distress. They began first aid and he was taken to hospital where he died.
The head of the NAACP here in Phoenix, Rev. Oscar Tillman, said he has spoken to both sides and at this point does not see anything suspicious, because it was a Taser and not a gun and because it was a domestic violence call. He however advised the family to get a second autopsy.
Tribex quotes critics of the police who have a different story.
Rev. Jarrett Maupin, a Phoenix activist and unsuccessful candidate for Congress, said Mbegbu’s wife simply answered the door when they knocked, and then the police barged in. Maupin said that according to the family, the officers were the first to get physical.
“He became both angry and inquisitive about why the police were there, as any normal person would. They handcuffed him face-down, and he begins to foam at the mouth. At this point, 911 hasn’t been called yet. They roll him over and attempt several times to sit him up.”
Maupin said the police had not been forthcoming with details since the incident.
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