Three deputies involved in a Taser incident that left a man dead have been placed on paid administrative leave, Butts County Sheriff Gary Long said.
“If the investigation has shown no wrongdoing (on their part), they’ll go back to their regular duties,” he said.
According to GBI officials, the deputies — Brad Handy, Flint Gavel and Jack Gilroy — went to Chad Hoek’s home Friday to serve him a drug warrant. Instead, they encountered Douglas Roger Tanner Sr., 53, and things escalated, GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said.
At one point, one of the deputies deployed his Taser, Miles said. Tanner began showing signs of physical distress and was taken to Sylvan Grove Hospital, where he later died.
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Long said the deputies were part of the Butts County Sheriff’s Enforcement Team, a joint effort with the Jackson Police Department.
Sgt. Shane Stevens with Jackson police was acting as a deputy at the time of the incident. It was not immediately known if he was also on administrative leave.
Gilroy and Handy have been with the sheriff’s office since 2011, Long said. Gavel has been there since 2012.
It is not known which deputy deployed his Taser.
Hoek was ultimately arrested on two counts of sale of methamphetamine. A child that was inside during the search was unharmed and turned over to family members.
Officials have not said what the relationship was between Tanner and Hoek. The official cause of Tanner’s death has also not been released.
GBI spokesman Bahan Rich said the investigation could take up to 60 days to complete.
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