Officer justifies murder of youth who was “attempting to fight with the cops”.

BAY CITY, Michigan - March 23, 2009 - Bay City police say a 15-year-old has died after officers who were trying to break up a fight used a Taser gun on him.
Police identified the teen as Brett Elder.

A statement from the police department said officers answered a report of a fight early Sunday at a home in the 200 block of South Catherine Street.

The statement said two males were arguing in an apartment and one of them "attempted to fight the officers."

Police said officers used a Taser on Elder, and his reaction led them to immediately call for emergency medical help.

"He was flopping around and looked like a fish out of water," said Elder’s aunt Cindy Hernden. "That’s the only way to explain it - his whole body was bent over."

Hernden admitted Elder attempted to punch one of the officers but said the use of a Taser gun was excessive since her nephew was already in handcuffs.

However, Deputy Chief Thomas Pletzke told TV5 that Elder was not handcuffed when the Taser was deployed.

Elder was pronounced dead at Bay Regional Medical Center.

Pletzke said one officer has been placed on administrative leave and that Michigan State police are investigating the incident.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday.

Investigators said it’s not clear at this time if there is a direct link between the taser incident and Elder's death.