Sultan man who was Tasered by police is identified

Published 10:13 pm Tuesday, September 7, 2010

GOLD BAR – The cause of a Sultan man’s death after an encounter with sheriff’s deputies Saturday remains under investigation pending further tests, officials with the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office said Tuesday.

The office identified the man as Adam C. Colliers, 25. Colliers graduated in 2003 from Sultan High School.

Colliers reportedly stopped breathing Saturday after he was shocked with a Taser, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said. A deputy used the Taser after Colliers allegedly charged him, Goetz said.

The incident also is under investigation by the Snohomish County Multiple Response Team.

Deputies were summoned to Gold Bar after two callers reported that there was a man running up and down First Avenue W, Goetz said. The man was reportedly yelling and causing a disturbance, Goetz said.

Two deputies confronted Colliers, who allegedly charged them and fought with them to the ground, Goetz said. One deputy used his Taser, administering a powerful shock. It’s not clear if the deputy applied the weapon for more than one five-second cycle, Goetz said.

After Colliers was hit with the Taser, the deputies determined that he was not breathing. They immediately began CPR and called for aid.

Colliers was rushed by emergency crews to Valley General Hospital in Monroe. Colliers died at the hospital, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

The deputies, ages 29 and 26, were placed on administrative leave. Both have been employed by the sheriff’s office for about three years.

Colliers was about 125 pounds and 5 feet, 6 inches tall. He was a high school athlete, competing in swimming and wrestling.

He had a run-in with Sultan police in 2007. He was accused of pushing over an officer’s patrol motorcycle outside the police department.

Sultan police officers said Colliers resisted arrest, broke out a window in a patrol car and threatened one of the officers, according to court papers.

Colliers pleaded guilty to malicious mischief in 2008 and was ordered to pay nearly $500 for the damage he caused. Colliers didn’t have a prior criminal record so the judge agreed to suspend any jail time if Colliers stayed out of trouble for two years.

Court records indicate that Colliers followed the judge’s orders and wasn’t charged with any other serious law violations after the 2007 incident.