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Aug 6, 2008 7:44 pm US/Eastern

FBI Starts Preliminary Probe In Taser Death

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Officials with the FBI in Pittsburgh say they have started a preliminary investigation in to the case of a man who died while in police custody after being tasered.

Authorities say Andre Thomas, 37, died just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning after he was tasered by Swissvale police on Hawthorne Street.

Swissvale police officers say Thomas did not respond to their commands and was acting erratically so they used the taser to subdue him.

But a witness says the officers used excessive force while trying to subdue Thomas.

Allegheny County police are investigating the incident.

Pittsburgh FBI's Bill Crowley says the FBI's Civil Rights section will now monitor that investigation.

"We have opened up a preliminary investigation. This can be considered a passive rather than active investigation at this point," Crowley said. "Our Civil Rights section will take a preliminary look, and will monitor the County investigation, pending its outcome."

Stay with KDKA for the latest details.

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