Man who died after Taser use ID’d

A man who died after a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper fired a Taser at him Friday afternoon was identified as 33-year-old Ryan Rich of Las Vegas, authorities said.

Meanwhile, the cause of Rich's death was not determined Monday as officials with the Clark County Coroner's office waited for toxicology tests to be completed.

The trooper who used the Taser was identified as four-year veteran Loren Lazoff by the Highway Patrol. Lazoff will remain on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the incident.

Las Vegas police homicide detectives, who are conducting the investigation, said Rich was fleeing from the trooper when he crashed into the center median of Interstate 15, near the Las Vegas Beltway, about 1 p.m. Friday. Rich had moments earlier crashed his pickup into at least two other vehicles on the interstate.

Rich then fought with Lazoff and a passing motorist who stopped to help Lazoff, police said. Rich also had attempted to run into oncoming traffic when he was subdued with a Taser, police said.

Once in custody Rich appeared to suffer a medical episode, police said. He died at Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center just before 2 p.m., according to the coroner's office.

Las Vegas police Lt. Lew Roberts said Rich had no criminal history that investigators were aware of and they were still trying to determine why he fled from and then struggled with Lazoff.

Roberts would not say how many times Rich was shocked with the Taser because of the ongoing investigation.

Roberts also would not release the name of the motorist who stopped to help Lazoff. He said the motorist was not involved in a crash with Rich, he just stopped to help the trooper.

No one else involved in the crashes or the struggle was significantly injured.

Highway Patrol spokesman Trooper Kevin Honea said there were reports that Rich had crashed into more than two vehicles on I-15, but no one else had come forward by Monday afternoon.

Samantha Charles, a spokeswoman for the coroner's office, said a decision about whether an inquest would be held into Rich's death would not come until the cause of death had been determined.

The coroner's office in the past has held inquests when someone has died after being shocked with a Taser by a law enforcement officer.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2904.