Kenly officer will face trial for March Taser death

A Kenly police officer was indicted on manslaughter charges Tuesday in connection with a March incident involving a man who died after a police chase ended in the use of a stun gun.

Jesse Craig Santifort was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Alexander Warren Thompson.

On March 3, a Thompson led authorities from Wilson County on a chase that topped 100 mph. In Johnson County, Kenly police picked up the pursuit.

The chase ended after an additional 10 miles when Thompson’s car crashed into a fire hydrant near the intersection of Country Store Road and U.S. Highway 70 between Pine Level and Princeton.

Santifort used a stun gun on Thompson when he ran toward the officer and disregarded his commands. Thompson then suffered a medical emergency and was taken to WakeMed, where he later died.