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Fayetteville police testing Tasers after man's death

Less than a week after a Fayetteville man died during a struggle with police, in which a stun gun was used, the police chief has asked all officers to turn in their Tasers for testing.

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Fayetteville Police Department
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Less than a week after a Fayetteville man died during a struggle with police, in which a stun gun was used, the police chief has asked all officers to turn in their Tasers for testing.

Michael Wade Evans, 56, of Simpson Street, collapsed Wednesday after being stunned with a Taser during a struggle with three Fayetteville police officers, according to the State Bureau of Investigation.

Witnesses said Evans was acting strangely in front of a restaurant and tried to jump into the path of passing cars.

Police Chief Tom Bergamine announced Monday that he has ordered all department-issued Tasers, model M26, to be turned in "to ensure the equipment is working properly."

Bergamine said he "believes that it is imperative that we immediately verify that all of our Tasers are in proper working order to protect both the citizens and officers," he said.

Officers Alexander Leviner, Christopher Crews and Travis Smith, all members of the Campbellton Bureau Patrol, were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the SBI investigation, which is routine when police use force that results in death.

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