Salt Lake investigates taser death

The man who died after being shocked with a Taser while allegedly struggling with police Friday night probably would not have even gone to jail if he had just stopped and talked to police, Salt Lake City police detective Robin Snyder said.

Police did not officially release the man's name Saturday, but KSL-TV identified the man as 35-year-old Al Itula after talking to his family.

Itula died from an unknown cause Friday about 9 p.m. after a foot chase and confrontation with officers during which he was struck with a Taser. Snyder did not know Saturday when an autopsy was scheduled.

A bench warrant was issued for Itula April 11 after he failed to show up for a preliminary hearing in 3rd District Court for charges of drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and interfering with an arrest on June 10, 2005, according to court records.

A second bench warrant for failure to appear on charges of assault by a prisoner, interfering with an arrest and drug possession for an incident on May 17, 2005, was also issued April 11.

Police said Saturday they were looking for Itula because of a bench warrant. It was unclear Saturday if they were looking for him based on any of the April 11 warrants.

Police also said Saturday that a few hours before officers spotted the man, the warrant was recalled, "which means (the court) took it back," said Snyder.

Court records, however, show both warrants issued April 11 were recalled six days later when Itula made contact with the court.

Snyder noted a recalled warrant wasn't something officers would normally be notified of anyway. They traditionally wouldn't find out about it until they questioned the man.

If Itula had stopped and talked to the officers, Snyder said they would have looked his name up on their computer and discovered the warrant had been recalled and then likely would have let him go.

Instead, he ran. Itula's family told KSL-TV he ran because he didn't trust police.

Police have dealt with Itula several times. Snyder said Itula had "an extensive criminal history" that included resisting arrest and fighting with police officers.

"He had a known violent history," she said.

After officers caught Itula near 300 South and 1300 West following a short foot chase, he began fighting with them, Snyder said. The officers called for backup during the struggle with Itula, whom police described as being very big.