Noel Mendoza, 44

Meriden, Connecticut
June 10, 2013

Agencies: Connecticut State Police | Meriden Police Department Connecticut

Cause of death: Taser

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

As officers helped EMTs get Mendoza into the ambulance, he fought them.

He was flailing and yelling about forgiveness and how people were watching him, according to police.

When police handcuffed Mendoza, he spit saliva and blood at officers and EMTs and tried to bite them, police said.

Police said Witkins used a Taser on Mendoza to get him to stop fighting. Mendoza then grabbed the Taser and would not let go.

As he was being transported, Mendoza fought emergency workers in the ambulance and continued fighting while being placed into a hospital room, police said.

Some time after Mendoza arrived at the hospital, medical staff indicated that the he had died, according to police. The medical examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of Mendoza's death.

Connecticut NAACP officials say they're investigating Meriden police's use of a stun gun on an injured man who later died.

Authorities identified the man Tuesday as 43-year-old Noel Mendoza of Meriden.

NAACP State Conference President Scot Esdaile said at a news conference on Tuesday that the civil rights group is demanding explanations about why Mendoza and two other people have died since 2008 after Meriden police used stun guns.