South Suburban Man Tasered by Cops Dies

Midlothian, Ill. - A 31-year-old south suburban Riverdale man who died early Wednesday morning tried to swallow a plastic bag of suspected drugs before police shot him with a Taser, according to Midlothian police.

Jaesun Ingles, of the 14300 block of Normal Avenue, died just after midnight at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island after fighting with police and fleeing from the parking lot of a Midlothian Dunkin' Donuts, according to Lt. Michael Kaufman.

An autopsy Wednesday failed to pinpoint Ingles' cause of death, and toxicology results will not be available for at least a week, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

A young woman who answered the door at the Ingles' Riverdale home Wednesday afternoon said the man's mother did not want to discuss the incident.

According to police, a Midlothian officer smelled marijuana smoke emanating from Ingles' car after pulling him over for traffic violations in the parking lot at 14631 Pulaski Road. Police recovered a "small amount" of marijuana from Ingles, Kaufman said.

"While attempting to conduct a pat-down search of the driver, the driver fled behind a local business where a subsequent struggle ensued with officers," Kaufman said.

"During the struggle, the suspect attempted to swallow a plastic bag of suspected narcotics."

Kaufman said he did not know whether Ingles ingested the plastic bag. The incident remains under investigation, and Kaufman said he did not know whether more than one officer used a Taser or how many times Ingles was struck by an electric charge.

The department referred the incident to the public integrity unit of the Illinois State Police for investigation because of the death, Kaufman said.

Three Midlothian officers were hurt during the incident. All three were treated and released, but two will require time off work for recovery, Kaufman said.