SAN DIEGO:

Meth, hypertension contributed to man's stun gun death

SAN DIEGO -- Methamphetamine abuse and hypertension contributed to the death of a 32-year-old Mexican who was shocked with a stun gun in a fight with federal agents at the San Ysidro border crossing, the county coroner's office ruled.

Anastacio Hernandez-Rojas died at about 6:10 p.m. Saturday, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, which listed the cause of death as "anoxic encephalopathy due to resuscitated cardiac arrest due to acute myocardial infarct."

That apparently means he died of a heart attack and was resuscitated but had no brain activity.

The Mexican Consul in San Diego condemned the in-custody death, saying U.S. agents used excessive force in subduing the man as he was being deported.

Relatives said Hernandez-Rojas lived illegally in San Diego County for about 20 years before he got into trouble and was deported. He was caught, along with his brother, trying to get back into the United States via the mountains east of Tijuana.

San Diego police said Border Patrol agents arrested the men on Otay Mountain and brought them to the San Ysidro station for processing.

Hernandez-Rojas signed papers agreeing to be returned to Mexico. At the gate leading to Mexico, agents removed the man's handcuffs and he became violent about 9:15 p.m., Collins said.

"The agents and the subject all fell to the ground during the fight, and the agents radioed for assistance," San Diego police spokesman Jim Collins stated. Customs and Border Protection agents joined the struggle, and a CBP agent fired a Taser at Hernandez-Rojas, he said.

Hernandez-Rojas stopped breathing, police said. Agents began cardiopulmonary resuscitation and called paramedics.

The National Human Rights Commission in Mexico accused Border Patrol agents of beating Hernandez-Rios, and the foreign ministry in Mexico City has demanded an explanation from San Diego and federal authorities, according to Tijuana newspapers.

NORTH COUNTY TIMES