Gallatin Police Deny Taser Killed Man

GALLATIN, Tenn. - Residents of a Gallatin neighborhood said they watched a series of events unfold that ended with a man dead after police fired a Taser at the victim.

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Gallatin police said Jeffrey Woodward called them to his home on Trousdale Avenue on Tuesday night claiming there was a home invasion and his mother was in danger.

The call ended up being a false report, and there was no emergency. Neighbors then saw Woodward go to two neighbors' houses.

When officers arrived, they said Woodward was walking down the street and carrying a knife.

According to neighbors and police, the situation became heated when the officers tried to escort Woodward back to his house. Police said Woodward began to violently struggle with authorities and that a Taser was deployed.

Neighbor Sharron Dunn was smoking a cigarette across the street and said she witnessed the confrontation.

"I'm not going to say they Tasered him one time because he was trying to run, but they kept doing it over and over and over again," said Dunn.

Another person who was across the street said police used the Taser repeatedly.

"He was handcuffed. They were Tasering him on the ground, and when they were Tasering him, they got the dogs out, let the dogs bite him," said witness Shawn Hill. "He was screaming for somebody to help him."

After officers restrained Woodward they called an ambulance. The man later died at Sumner Regional Hospital.

"The Taser probe did not make proper contact and did not contribute to Woodward's death," said a Gallatin police spokesman. "There is no reason to believe police used excessive force."

Police said Woodward was a big man who was difficult to restrain.

Neighbors on Trousdale Avenue area said nothing like this has happened in their neighborhood. Police said they received a number of calls from frightened neighbors before they arrived.

Gallatin police said they can't comment any further until their investigation is complete.

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