State police probe Taser death of Martinsville teen

MARTINSVILLE — Virginia State Police are investigating the death of a 17-year-old Martinsville boy who died Thursday after a city police officer used a Taser on him.

Martinsville Police Chief Mike Rogers said officer R.L. Wray, now on paid administrative leave, accosted the boy in a home on Rives Road and used his stun gun when the boy “moved rapidly” toward him in an offensive manner.

“The officer was well within the guidelines of our policy when he used the Taser,” Rogers said.

Last June, the U.S. Department of Justice tentatively completed a study that found no conclusive medical evidence that Tasers cause injury or death, despite many publicized cases of people dying after being hit by the stun guns. In many cases, the victims had pre-existing medical conditions.

Police would not release the name of the boy who died Thursday in Martinsville, but another teenager who was in the home at the time identified him as Derick Jones of Martinsville.

The teenager, Justin Gregory, 15, has been charged with disorderly conduct.

Rogers said Wray went to Rives Road after police received a 911 report at 9:25 of a young man “using the bathroom” in the street. A second 911 caller complained of two or more young men in the street “yelling or fighting.” When Wray arrived, he saw a young male run into the house at 307 Rives Road. Wray followed and found the front door busted, and blood on the inside wall.

He found the two teenagers inside. The one he had seen running was upstairs, so Wray called for him to come down, and after hearing “striking or pounding” noises in the kitchen, he called for the teenager there to come out, Rogers said.

It was then that the 17-year-old moved aggressively toward the police officer, and the teen “was also making some not very kind” comments to Wray, Rogers said.

Gregory said he came downstairs to find his friend on the floor. “The cop used excessive force,” Gregory said Friday. “I told him he didn’t need to Taser him. Derick was just drunk.”

Gregory said both of them had been drinking that night.

Rogers said the police officer tried to resuscitate the teenager as soon as he realized he was unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County.

When Gregory’s mother, Jennifer Crigger, found out what was going on, she told police.

“I just told them you better thank God in Heaven it wasn’t my son, because it could’ve easily been,” Crigger said.

When Crigger thought about why police were called to the area in the first place, she said, “It wasn't that serious. He’s 17, and his life is cut short over a disturbing the peace call.”

Rogers said the state police investigation could take one to two weeks. State Police Sgt. Bob Carpentieri declined to comment on the investigation.

• Rex Bowman is a staff writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

• WSLS 10 reporter Candice Nelson contributed to this report.