North Carolina officer charged in stun gun death
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A grand jury has indicted a North Carolina police officer on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the stun-gun death of a man apprehended following a high-speed chase.
News media outlets report that the Johnston County grand jury returned the indictment this week against Kenly detective Jesse Santifort.
Santifort is accused of using a stun gun on 37-year-old Alexander Warren Thompson on March 3. Thompson died three days later. Santifort is white, as was Thompson.
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Santifort faces up to 16 months in prison if convicted.
Town Manager Greg Dunham said Santifort is on "reserve status," meaning he's no longer a full-time employee.
An autopsy showed Thompson died from a lack of oxygen to the brain after being stunned four times.
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Jail records don't indicate whether Santifort has an attorney.