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Man dies after Taser hits by police

An 18-year-old man with mental-health problems died Thursday after being hit twice by Taser cartridges during a confrontation with police in Northeast Philadelphia, a police department spokesman said.

Patrick Johnson was pronounced dead at 1:10 p.m. at Nazareth Hospital, more than an hour after police were called to his home in the 6900 block of Souder Street, said Lt. Frank Vanore.

Johnson had a record of being violent with police, including an episode in which he "went after an officer with a butcher knife," Vanore said.

"We've been to this location 14 times," Vanore said, adding that Johnson had "a history of mental illlness."

Two officers trained to deal with mental-health issues responded to 911 calls around noon and found Johnson moving in and out of the house breaking items, Vanore said.

The officers tried to resolve the situation but Johnson continued to behave violently, Vanore said.

"The incident took some time," Vanore said.

At some point he armed himself with several sticks and tried to set them on fire on a stove, and then attempted to attack the officers in his house, Vanore said.

An officer fired a Taser at Johnson, but it had no effect, Vanore said.

Johnson was then hit by a second Taser cartridge and collapsed, Vanore said. Johnson received first aid at the scene and then was transported to Nazareth in Northeast Philadelphia, where he died.

The cause of Johnson's death is under investigation, Vanore said.

Vanore said he could not recall if anyone had ever died in Philadelphia after being subdued with a Taser.

A man in front of the house declined to comment, saying the family was too upset. Two neighbors who did not want to give their names said that Johnson was known to have mental problems.

The Police Department has expanded the use of Tasers in recent years. They were introduced as a way to subdue suspects with using a gun. Only officers who have received crisis-intervention training can use Tasers.

Philadelphia gained unwanted notoriety in May when police fired a Taser at a 17-year-old who ran onto to field at a Phillies home game.

The incident raised questions about the need for using the Taser when no one's life was in danger.

Amnesty International, which alleges that Tasers are being used excessively in situations that are not life-threatening, has reported that 351 people have died in the United States after being struck by a Taser between June 2001 and August 2008.

Last year, a Philadelphia man died after being hit by a Taser fired by Pennsylvania State Police on Interstate 95 in Tinicum Township, Delaware County.