THETFORD, Vt. (AP) - A Vermont state trooper who fired a stun gun at a Thetford man who died has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Vermont Public Radio reports Senior Trooper David Shaffer was relieved from active duty and placed on leave on Sept. 26, two days before an autopsy showed a shot from Shaffer's Taser stun gun killed 39-year-old Macadam Mason in June.
The autopsy said Mason died of a heart attack caused by the shock.
Police said the death of Mason is being investigated as a homicide.
Police said Mason was distraught and threatened to hurt himself or others when he called a hospital for help. Accounts differ about what happened next.
Police said Mason moved aggressively, with his fist raised, toward a trooper.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
