Louisiana cop indicted in Taser death

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A white ex-police officer for a small town in Louisiana was indicted Wednesday in the stun-gun death of a black suspect who was handcuffed.

Winn Parish District Attorney Chris Nevils said a grand jury charged Winnfield Police Officer Scott Nugent, 21, with manslaughter and official malfeasance, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Nugent is accused of using his Taser device repeatedly on Baron "Scooter" Pikes, also 21, while in custody in January, sending him into fatal cardiac arrest. Nugent was fired in May.

Two other officers present during the incident were not indicted, the newspaper said.

Bond was set at $45,000 for Nugent, who faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted.

Nugent's attorney has said previously his client adhered to police procedures during Pikes' arrest on a drug possession warrant following a foot chase. Nugent's own report of the incident noted Pikes did not resist after being handcuffed but didn't respond quickly enough to his orders to move.

Pikes, who was stunned nine times, pleaded with the officer to stop, witnesses said. He died within the hour.