No Cause of Death Following "Taser Incident"

[Sensei]

It could be several days before the Anoka County Medical Examiner determines how 29 year old Mark Backlund died. Backlund was in a car crash Tuesday on 694, when state troopers arrived, they say he was uncooperative. Troopers shot him with a taser, Backlund died a short time later at the hospital.

Backlund was on his way to the airport to pick up his parents before the car accident. "We called when we got off the plane, Linda called, and there was no answer," Mark's Father Gordon explained. Minutes later Gordon Backlund got a call from one of his son's friends, saying Mark had died in a car accident.

The family rushed to the hospital to talk with doctors. "(They) said that he was in a car, had the accident and was thrashing somewhat about and next thing you know, his heart stopped," Gordon Backlund said. He took that information with him to the Medical Examiner's office on Wednesday. "She said do you know your son was tased, I said no, we didn't know that," Backlund said.

The family told KARE 11 Thursday they weren't too concerned at this point with the Medical Examiner's potential conclusions. "That was not our first concern, or even our second. What was important is we lost our son," Gordon explained.

Mark Backlund will be laid to rest on Monday; he leaves behind his parents, his sister, and his two year old son Nathaniel. "It's really hard to think about now. When I see his son, he (Mark) won't be able to come and see him too. He won't be there as Nathaniel grows up," Mark's sister Melanie Backlund Moe said.

Five state troopers are on standard administrative leave following the taser incident. Two of those troopers have been on the patrol for less than 2 months. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is conducting an independent investigation.



Family waits for answers in taser death
The family of a Fridley man who died after being shocked with a Taser is focusing on remembering him rather than asking questions about his death.

Autopsy results haven't been released in the death of 29-year-old Mark Backlund, who was shocked by state troopers after a car crash Tuesday on Interstate 694 in New Brighton. He died later at a hospital.

Gordon Backlund says he was first told only that his son had been in a car crash and had died. He says a medical examiner later told the family that Mark Backlund had been shocked.

A State Patrol spokesman says troopers used the Taser because Backlund was "uncooperative."

Gordon Backlund said his 29-year-old son was driving to the airport to pick up his parents returning from a Florida trip when he was involved in the crash.

The patrol said the official cause of Backlund's death has not been determined. The Anoka County Medical Examiner was performing an autopsy, but results were not expected until Thursday afternoon at the earliest.

Five state troopers were placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure, the patrol said.

Backlund was breathing but unconscious when paramedics arrived, said to Allina Medical Transportation spokesman Tim Burke. He was pronounced dead at Unity Hospital in Fridley.

Gordon Backlund said he was told his son's heart stopped. He told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that his son, a 1996 graduate of Fridley High School, had no heart conditions.

"We're looking for what really happened," said Backlund, who said his son's car was the only one involved in the crash. He described his son as caring and loyal, with a good sense of humor. "And it is just going to take time to figure this out."

Lt. Mark Peterson of the State Patrol wouldn't describe the uncooperative behavior, the newspaper said. He didn't return telephone calls Wednesday or Thursday from The Associated Press seeking more information.

Peterson said State Patrol troopers began carrying Tasers about 18 months ago and had no previous deaths related to the stun guns.

Backlund is survived by his parents, Gordon and Linda Backlund of Fridley, his sister Melanie Backlund Moe, and his 2-year-old son, Nathaniel.

"We're in shock," Gordon Backlund said.

"This is a traumatic event for a lot of people," said Tim O'Malley, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is leading the investigation. "Someone has died and in fairness to that person, the troopers, family members and others who may have been affected, we need to make sure that we're accurate and thorough."

The state's Policy on the Use of Non-Deadly Force states officers should consider the severity of the crime and whether the suspect poses a threat to the safety of the officers

Sensei
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