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Taser gun
A police officer demonstrates a Taser stun-gun. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA
A police officer demonstrates a Taser stun-gun. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Man shot with Taser by police dies in hospital

This article is more than 11 years old
Police watchdog investigates death of Martin Baskeyfield, who was admitted to hospital days after arrest

A man shot by police using a Taser during his arrest has died in hospital. Martin Baskeyfield, 44, was detained for motoring offences on 29 September last year. During the arrest he was subdued by officers who shot him using the Taser stun-gun.

Five days later he was admitted to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire. He died on 14 January.

Charges of motoring offences levelled against Baskeyfield were withdrawn after his death. Medical tests are being carried out to determine whether there is a link between the use of the Taser, more than three months ago, and his death.

Following his arrest, Baskeyfield's relatives made a complaint to Staffordshire police over the level of force used. The force referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

An IPCC spokesman said: "The IPCC is independently investigating the arrest of Martin Baskeyfield in Stoke-on-Trent. During the arrest in Cotterill Grove, he was Tasered and was later charged with offences and released on bail.

"On 9 October 2012, Staffordshire police received a complaint about the police use of force during the arrest. The IPCC investigation continues into the full circumstances of the arrest.

"Sadly, Mr Baskeyfield passed away in hospital on 14 January this year. A Home Office postmortem is being conducted to determine cause of death and the coroner has been informed."

Staffordshire police said it was co-operating fully with the IPCC investigation.

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