Scotland Neck, N.C. — A 61-year-old Halifax County man died Tuesday, a day after police shocked him with a stun gun while he was riding his bike, family members said.
Scotland Neck Police Chief Joe Williams said they received a call Monday night about a man who fell off of his bicycle and injured himself in the parking lot of the BB&T bank, 1001 Main St. The caller was concerned that the man was drunk.
When Officer John Turner arrived, he saw Roger Anthony pedaling away along 10th Street. He followed Anthony in his patrol car, briefly put on his sirens and lights and yelled out of the window for him to stop, but Anthony continued to ride away, police said.
Williams said Turner then saw Anthony take something out his pocket and put it into his mouth. At that time, Turner got out of the car and yelled for Anthony to stop. When Anthony didn't stop, the officer used a stun gun on him, causing him to fall off of his bike.
Anthony was transported to Pitt County Memorial Hospital, where he was declared brain dead, his sister Gladys Freeman said. He was taken off of life support on Tuesday.
Freeman said her brother was disabled, suffered from seizures and had trouble hearing. She said he was riding his bike home from her house on Sunday night. Anthony lived alone in an independent living community.
Williams would not comment further on the incident, citing an ongoing investigation. Turner, who has been on the force for just over a month, has been placed on administrative leave.
Scotland Neck Mayor James Mills is calling for the State Bureau of Investigation to look into what happened.
"The best we've been able to determine is that he offered no threat," Mills said.
Milton Freeman said Anthony, his brother-in-law, used to smoke cigarettes, drink coffee and ride his bicycle around town. Anthony was nicknamed "Rabbit" because of his big ears.
"Why would you (use a stun gun on) a man on a bike? He didn’t do any crime. He wasn’t trying to escape. How (was) he going to escape on his bicycle?" Milton Freeman said.



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If I had to guess, and thankfully I do not, I would say it was probably just a combination of the shock, and the fall from his bike, which was moving at the time.
I can tell you, the many times ive fallen off my bike among other things people fall off of, Ive been knocked unconscious like four times (bike twice, trampoline once, skiing once. That last one a doozy.) and thats while being young and able to at least mitigate damage.
It doesnt make it any less of a crime of course. But I dont think, regarding that particular portion of the incident, anything more than what clearly happened needs to have happened.
November 25, 2011 4:04 p.m.
Seems part of the story is missing, you don't just go from "Riding a bike" to "Brain dead" after being Tazed... Bro...
Cop should be strung up by the gills.
November 24, 2011 2:46 p.m.
Now, my thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mr.Anthony, it hurts to lose a loved one no matter the cause. But also, think of the officer. He returns home to a family that loves him as well. People depend on him for love, support, food and shelter. What if he assumed that
November 23, 2011 7:13 p.m.
Had I not informed her of his condition he'd likely been arrested.
How do we educate people that when someone "seems" to ignore their command that's not a reason to "Taser first" and ask questions later?
November 23, 2011 6:17 p.m.
November 23, 2011 4:49 p.m.