Indigenous Man Tasered Six Times Before Cardiac Arrest

Multiple medical and operational factors converged during a 90-minute period that ended in the death of Ashley Charles Washington, a 31-year-old Indigenous man, a Brisbane coroner's court heard this week. Police deployed a Taser six times during a confrontation in Toowoomba on 13 December 2020, yet forensic examination later showed his death stemmed from a complex combination of severe pre-existing heart disease, acute stress and methamphetamine in his system at toxic-to-lethal concentrations.

The incident began when a Mount Lofty property owner discovered Washington attempting to remove items—sunglasses, surgical scissors and cash—at around 6:35pm. Washington became aggressive when followed into the street and fled, wearing only shorts.

A uniformed officer and police dog located Washington roughly 20 minutes later. When commanded to lie on the ground, Washington made unintelligible sounds and continued walking. The dog, called Turbo, made physical contact with Washington's arms and chest. Washington responded by stabbing the dog repeatedly with the surgical scissors, causing Turbo to retreat to the marked police vehicle.

The officer deployed his Taser once. Washington fell to the ground briefly before being directed to place his hands behind his back. As the officer attempted to restrain him, Washington struck the officer in the face and arm with the scissors. The officer deployed his Taser five additional times as Washington resisted. Five more officers arrived, placed Washington in handcuffs, and held his legs as he spat blood and continued to resist.

Paramedics administered sedative medication. Washington's heart rate rapidly declined, followed by cardiac arrest. Paramedics attempted CPR, but Washington was pronounced dead at Toowoomba Base Hospital at 8:01pm—approximately 90 minutes after the homeowner first discovered him.

Forensic examination revealed taser marks on his neck, upper arm, buttock and thigh. Medical records showed Washington suffered from coronary atherosclerosis, a serious heart disease characterized by narrowed arteries. Toxicology detected methamphetamine in concentrations in the toxic-to-lethal range. Medical examiners determined the cause of death was undetermined, noting that the combination of severe pre-existing heart disease, acute stress from the confrontation and the presence of methamphetamine could independently have triggered fatal cardiac arrest.

A Queensland Ambulance Service investigation concluded paramedics did not adequately monitor Washington's condition, though noted they worked in dark, rainy conditions and found no intentional omission. A Queensland Police internal inquiry determined the officers' actions were lawful and reasonable.

Body-worn cameras captured all interactions between Washington and police and paramedic personnel. A three-day coronial hearing is scheduled for 29 August to examine the circumstances further.