Taser Death: Johnathan Michael Nelson (Riverside County, CA)

27-year-old inmate Jonathan Michael Nelson died last month after deputies had used a Taser on him for the second time within 24 hours. [SOURCE]

Nelson had been arrested on suspicion of resisting an officer. According to the police, when deputies arrived and contacted Nelson, he tried to run, and deputies quickly chased him down, tackled him and shocked him with a Taser.

Nelson was taken to Hemet Valley Medical Center and later released for booking at the Southwest Detention Center in French Valley. Nelson was placed in a holding cell but when he tried to harm himself early Thursday by hitting the cell door and banging his head, deputies moved him to a padded "safety" cell, according to police.

As deputies left the cell, Nelson became aggressive toward them and grabbed the leg of one, Lujan said. Deputies restrained him and shocked him with a Taser, according to police.

Nelson "became nonresponsive" and first aid was administered, a sheriff's news release said. He was taken by ambulance to Rancho Springs Community Hospital in Murrieta where he was pronounced dead at 3:15 am on July 30, 2009.

Deputies said Nelson's behavior had been "bizarre," as if he were on drugs or had a mental problem, Lujan said. But investigators will not know if drugs were involved until they receive the results of toxicology tests.

Reached by phone at Nelson's Rancho Cucamonga home Friday, his godmother, Helen Baca, said the family had little information about what happened and did not know what Nelson was doing in Sage.

"It's an awful lot to process," Baca said. "This is a devastating loss."

Baca said family members learned Nelson had been arrested and his 19-year-old brother went to an animal shelter to pick up his dog, which was with Nelson when he was taken into custody. Coroner's officials notified him at the animal shelter that his brother had died, Baca said.

Baca said Nelson was employed as a truck driver but was off work that day. Baca said she was unaware of any medical problems that he might have had and said that while he had used drugs in the past, she had no reason to think he still did.

Nelson was a big man -- 6-foot-2, 340 pounds, according to booking information.

"He is a gentle giant," said his mother, Charlene Nelson. "He's a big guy, but he's kind. He's got a big heart."

Nelson said she doubts deputies' claims that he was being violent.

"I just don't believe it," she said. "I think they're trying to cover something."

Do Children Really Need Fathers?

I went to college in Riverside CA. I never thought of it as a center of Black political activism at the time. So imagine my surprise to learn that a group of African American men have been hitting the streets looking for positive and proactive ways to improve our community. One of their projects is the annual Million Father March:

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MILLION FATHER MARCH
Don't Blame It On The Alcohol

When it comes to the lack of paternal involvement, who should we blame?

I say, "Don't blame it on the schools, prisons or alcohol." But, rather place the blame right where it fits. Squarely on the shoulders of fathers.

As the Million Father March gets underway across America, I am confident there will be excuses. Some will say, "I have other commitments." While, others will claim "I'm doing my part as a father so I don't need to go." And, then there are those who will dodge the invitation all together. To the former I say, "Understandbly so, however, tell ten and let them tell ten." To those involved I say, "If you're doing your part, then come share with those that need to know what you know - if not you, who?" And, to the latter I say and pray, "Read on, there is hope for you."

Like I said, "Don't blame it on the schools, prisons or alcohol." When a child is let loose on the streets, confused with anger and kills the innocent, who is to blame? When a child fails in school because no one feels the need to help, who is to blame? When a child runs away to escape the hurt and pain at home, who is to blame?

Fatherhood Is NOT a Coward's Business!
It is the business of handling one's business. It is about taking time out to know your child(ren) when they don't know themselves. It's about poppin' that colla' and saying "I got this" and getting to the streets to do whatever it takes (legally) to provide for your child. It's about saying "My child is the most important headline of my day" and sharing that news with others.

So I say, "Don't blame it on the schools, prisons or alcohol." You either got game, or you don't! And, if you do, bring it to the march. And, if you don't, bring it to the march. Because, either way we got something for you.

When the day is done and the march has gone, ask yourself, "Will my legacy live on?" Will I have stood shoulder to shoulder with other fathers who fought to put purpose in their seeds. Or, will I make excuses, coward down and blame society for what she did to me. Now, that I laid pipe, hyped, no gripe off the chain wild, guess it's time to turn over the reins and let another man raise my child.

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Villagers, what say u?