Family Accuses Roseville Police of Excessive Force in Taser-Killing of Paul Martinez

The family of Paul Martinez publically protested his taser-related death. [VIDEO] Martinez's family held a protest outside the jail Sunday, holding signs accusing police officers of using excessive force against a man who was disabled in one arm. [SOURCE]

"We want to know, why was my ex-brother-in-law Tasered?" said Alison Watts. "He only has one arm, he's legally crippled, he had an SSI case pending. He was shot a year ago."

Martinez's family acknowledged his drug use and arrests, but said his past shouldn't turn the focus away from his death in police custody.

"He shouldn't have had meth on him, but because he had a drug problem he deserved to die?" Alison said.

Taser Death: Paul Martinez (Roseville CA)

Paul Martin Martinez, 36, was a bad man. He had a long criminal history. He didn't want to be incarcerated. All that being said, he didn't deserve to be killed from taser blasts by Roseville police officers while in custody.

Martinez was arrested on Friday evening after a traffic stop turned up meth inside the his vehicle.

After being taken to the jail, Martinez became combative during the booking process, requiring several officers to attempt to subdue him. An unidentified Roseville police sergeant zapped Martinez in the buttocks with 50,000 volts of electricity from his taser gun. Martinez fell unconscious and stopped breathing.

Roseville emergency crews administered CPR and Martinez was transported to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just after 9 p.m.

The officers involved in the incident were placed on paid administrative leave.

The police appear to have gone taser-happy in the past week judging from the number of people that are dying while under police custody. I guess as long as the people being killed are bad there will not be a national uproar. I imagine that folks wont' get excited until one of these taser-related deaths to be a blue-eyed, blonde-hair victim.

What say u?