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Coroner Plans Inquest In Washington Co. 'Stun' Victim Death

A coroner said he'll hold an inquest into the death of a man four days after police in Washington County subdued him with a stun gun.

Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said autopsy results are pending on Ronald Petruney, 49, who died at about 7 a.m. Saturday at Washington Hospital.

Investigators said a Washington, Pa., officer was patrolling the Jefferson Avenue area Tuesday when he saw Ronald Petruney having what appeared to be a seizure.

The officer broke through a crowd of onlookers to help Petruney, but investigators said Petruney then ran into traffic.

When police tried to stop Petruney, they said he charged at them and starting biting them.

Instead, Petruney swung at one officer and bit another at least three times. Police filed aggravated assault and other charges against him.

Investigators said police had to use a Taser to subdue him.

Lt. Dan Stanek of the Washington Police Department said the officers followed all department procedures in using Tasers.

“One Taser was discharged into his lower extremities, hitting his legs. They also Tased him twice in the torso. As this encounter continued, Mr. Petruney then lost consciousness,” said Stanek.

Petruney's neighbor, John Wheeler, isn’t happy that police used a Taser to subdue someone Wheeler described as a mentally ill man.

"I think it's a shame that a city police (officer) shot him like that knowing he has mental problems," said Wheeler. "You can tell he's got mental problems. You talk to him, and you can see that."

Channel 11 News learned Petruney has a history of mental health issues and medical issues and police said they’ve had at least 18 different run-ins with him over the past year.

Wheeler, who's also been shot with a Taser by police, said he knows exactly what Petruney had to endure.

"A Taser to me is inhumane, because you felt the electricity going through your whole body from your feet straight up to your head," said Wheeler.



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