Police actions scrutinized

The Honolulu Police Department has launched an internal investigation after the Medical Examiner’s Office classified the death of a man who was hit with a Taser as homicide.

A police video released earlier this week shows Sheldon Haleck, 38, in an altercation with police, who used pepper spray and twice shot the Kapo­lei man with an electric stun gun. Officers were arresting Haleck in March on suspicion of disorderly conduct in front of Iolani Palace on South King Street.

On Wednesday the medical examiner said Haleck died from "multiple metabolic and cardiac complications as a consequence of physical altercation with police."

The medical examiner said Haleck had crystal meth­am­pheta­mine in his system and was "acutely intoxicated."

The officers involved in the arrest are still on regular duty. Police have not said how many officers were involved in the incident.

Police said they responded March 16 to a complaint that a man wearing dark clothing was running erratically in the street.

A police DVD recording of the altercation shows a police officer shouting more than once for Haleck to get on the sidewalk, but Haleck refused to leave the street, continuously running away and evading the officers as they approached him.

One of the officers used pepper spray, but it was ineffective and the suspect remained in the street, police said.

Another officer used an electric stun gun twice, but it did not stop Haleck, police said.

Haleck tripped and fell in the street while trying to evade officers, who described him as "combative."

He was handcuffed and moved to the sidewalk and suddenly became unresponsive, police said.

Paramedics and firefighters initially treated Haleck, and he was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center, where he died the next day.