Man Dies After Being Tased By Police: GBI

MARIETTA, GA — State authorities are investigating a use-of-force incident after a man claiming to be shot died after being tased by a Cobb County officer.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday said Timothy Lyle Sheats, 47, of Dallas, died during the encounter with police that occurred around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Cobb County Police told Patch the incident happened at Powder Springs and Hurt roads.

Officers responded to a hit-and-run call when they encountered Sheats walking down the roadway, the GBI said.

According to police, 911 callers reported someone "at the scene was behaving erratically and running into traffic, narrowly avoiding being (hit) by passing vehicles."

Sheats told officers he had been shot, the GBI said, but they added an officer did not see any visible injuries.

The officer then asked Sheats to get into his patrol car out of safety concerns, but Sheats refused and began walking into traffic, the GBI said. During this time, the GBI said Sheats tried to enter a passing vehicle.

Police said Sheats was uncooperative and resisted police instructions.

The officer tased Sheats "to gain control and prevent him from running into oncoming traffic," the GBI said. By then, emergency medical workers arrived and evaluated Sheats, who had become unresponsive, the GBI said.

Cobb County Fire personnel provided medical aid to Sheats, police said.

He was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, the GBI said.

Police said it is standard for the GBI to investigate incidents of this nature. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office for review.