George Salgado Dies After Being Tasered By Miami-Dade Police; Family Seeks Civil Suit

The family of a man who died last week after being tasered by police suspects officers may have contributed to his death with a violent beating.

Miami-Dade Police responded to a 911 call Friday about George Salgado, 21, who was reportedly naked and behaving aggressively on the 2300 block of SW 58th Avenue, NBC Miami reports. The caller told police that Salgado was trying to bite his neck and tear his clothes off.

Almost a dozen officers responded to the scene, which was just outside Salgado's girlfriend's house, according to CBS Miami.

Miami-Dade Police say Salgado became aggressive and violent toward responding officers, and they "utilized their electronic control device."

CBS Miami reports that Salgado was taken to Larkin Hospital under the Baker Act, which permits involuntary examination if mental illness is suspected or if the person is a harm to self or others.

He died several hours later.

Salgado's family says that when they visited him in the hospital, his "wrists were scarred and bloody, his face was scraped, he was covered with bruises and had welts on his head," according to the Miami Herald.

“It’s our firm belief that this young man, who weighed 160 pounds, was beaten severely in addition to having several Taser shots fired at him,” said Jeffrey Norkin, the family’s lawyer.

Norkin linked Salgado's erratic behavior to use of the psychedelic drug LSD, reports NBC Miami.

Family members, who are now seeking a civil suit to have criminal charges brought against the responding officers, told WSVN 7 that Salgado had just become a personal trainer and was about to go to college.