Advertisement
The troopers used a Taser three times — though authorities said it was only effective the third time — on the 29-year-old Fridley man after he crashed the van on Interstate 694 in the northern Minneapolis suburb of New Brighton in January.
Shortly after the Taser was used a third time, Backlund became unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The Ramsey County Attorney’s office cleared the troopers of any misconduct after reviewing an outside investigation by the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. A medical examiner found that “acute cocaine intoxication” was the main factor in Backlund’s death.
In the 11 minutes of video footage released Thursday, the camera on one of the squad car’s dashboards shows two witnesses standing near Backlund’s van. A trooper approaches and opens the passenger-side door.
“Are you all right?” he says. “Do you understand what’s going on?”
The trooper then asks Backlund several times if he is a diabetic. Reports from the investigation note that most of Backlund’s responses to officers were inaudible and that Backlund appeared to be impaired, said State Patrol spokesman Lt. Mark Peterson.
The video then appears to show Backlund punching a trooper, as authorities and witnesses say he did. Peterson and Sgt. Jason Bartell, a State Patrol force instructor, said the Taser was first used after the punch as Backlund tried to put his keys into the ignition.
“What’s running through their minds is that there are witnesses in front of the vehicle, it’s approximately (5 p.m. during) rush hour,” Peterson said, explaining that the troopers were trying to prevent Backlund from driving away.
Video from a camera-equipped Taser pointed at Backlund shows him putting his keys into the ignition. A second Taser not equipped with a camera was deployed, but Bartell said the connection was bad and it had no effect on Backlund.
Seconds later, a Taser is used a second time — again with a bad connection — as Backlund comes out of the van’s right sliding door. He tumbles onto the ground as the troopers try to restrain him. Laying on his stomach, the video shows Backlund struggling and screaming as the troopers try to handcuff him.
Finally, the troopers used a Taser in “drive stun” mode, holding it against Backlund’s thigh for 5 seconds without firing the projectiles.
Troopers were able to handcuff him that way, but Backlund was waving his arms and legs both before and after he was drive stunned, Bartell said. But several minutes later, Backlund became unresponsive, and the video shows paramedics calling his name. He is then put into an ambulance.
At the news conference, Peterson offered condolences to Backlund’s family, saying it was “an extremely difficult situation no matter what the circumstances.”
Peterson said the State Patrol hasn’t changed its policy for using Tasers after the incident, but he said the policy is examined and re-evaluated on a regular basis.
Gordon Backlund, Mark’s father, said he and his wife were told of the investigation’s outcome a few days ago and saw the video. But he said he didn’t want to say much until he reads the actual report and has more time to reflect.
“I can tell you that it’s really difficult to watch your son’s last five minutes,” he said. “It’s a difficult time for us.”
