Pubdate: Sun, 08 Oct 2006 Source: Summit Daily News (CO) Copyright: 2006 Summit Daily News Contact: http://apps.summitdaily.com/forms/letter/index.php Website: http://www.summitdaily.com/home.php Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/587 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) POLICE - MAN SEEMED TO REACH FOR KNIFE BEFORE OFFICER FIRED TASER BOULDER - A 22-year-old man who died after a police officer shot him with a stun gun had appeared to be grabbing a knife clipped to his pants, Lafayette police said. Ryan Wilson died Aug. 4 after running more than a half-mile from officers responding to a tip that marijuana was being grown in a field in Louisville. Boulder County Coroner Thomas Faure concluded Wilson died of an irregular heartbeat caused by a combination of exertion, the stun-gun shock and a heart condition present since birth. District Attorney Mary Lacy said Friday that prosecutors have not yet decided whether to file criminal charges against officer John Harris, who fired the Taser. Harris, who was placed on paid leave after Wilson died, returned to desk duty Monday. Lafayette police said in a written statement Friday that it has policies to keep the public and officers safe. "That Mr. Wilson died despite the appropriate use of these policies and procedures is truly regrettable," police said in the statement. Wilson's stepmother Monique Vanrhyn questioned whether a knife really was involved and suggested that the knife was a police attempt to "cover their butts." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek