Man Becomes Unresponsive and Dies After Tasing in Richmond County

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office says an investigation is underway after a man died a short time after he was tased by a deputy as authorities tried to take him into custody early this morning.

Authorities were called to a report of a disturbance at 12:35 a.m. in the 3400 block of South Kensington Drive.  Sgt. William McCarty says the suspect was being combative as deputies tried to take him into custody.  McCarty said, "During the encounter, a deputy deployed his taser to subdue the subject and he was taken into custody."

The suspect, identified as 45 year old Tyrone Blount of Hephzibah, reportedly became unresponsive.  Deputies and EMS performed CPR, but Blount died at the scene.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called at the request of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.  "The Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs Division will be conducting an internal investigation into the incident.  One Deputy has been placed on administrative leave, pending the investigation," according to a report from the Sheriff's Office.