MANDAN, N.D. (AP) - Two Mandan police officers did not use excessive force and won’t be charged after a 36-year-old man died after fighting with the officers following a traffic stop in February, police said Thursday.
Police had stopped John Michael Prudente Jr. of Mandan on Feb. 8, but Prudente drove off as officers were talking to him. When police caught up with Prudente, authorities said he started fighting with the officers and was handcuffed. He became unresponsive and died at a hospital.
An autopsy found Prudente died of “excited delirium” as a result of methamphetamine use and underlying conditions, and there was no evidence of excessive use of force, Mandan Deputy Police Chief Lori Flaten said in a statement. The Morton County State’s Attorney’s Office determined the officers did not commit a crime and won’t be charged, Flaten said.
The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. The two officers, Sgt. David Raugust and Officer Mary Hamilton, have been on administrative leave but will return to full service.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.