Los Gatos Man Dies After Being Tasered by Redding Police

A Los Gatos man died Friday morning at Mercy Medical Center Redding, about 34 hours after Redding police officers deployed a Taser on him following a struggle.

Scott Everett Wininger, 44, was pronounced dead at 8:24 a.m. with his family present, according to a press release issued by the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.

On Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 9:51 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance at 2605 Lake Redding Drive in Redding and found Wininger "was acting bizarre and appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance to the point that the residents were fearful for their safety," the release stated. 

As two officers approached his room Wininger ran past them and would not comply with their orders, the release said.

The officers attempted to control him and a struggle ensued which moved to the home's front lawn, authorities said.

Wininger was wearing a pair of sweatpants, no shirt and was sweating profusely, making it difficult for the officers to restrain him, the release continued. 

"Officers repeatedly ordered Wininger to stop resisting and comply with their orders. Wininger refused and was exhibiting unusual strength. For the protection of the officers, and to gain compliance, they deployed an electronic control device (Taser)," according to the release.

Wininger was then subdued and handcuffed, but went into physical distress and stopped breathing. Officers immediately started life rescuing procedures and he was transported to the hospital where he never regained consciousness, the release added.

The RPD initiated a so-called  “multi-agency critical incident response” protocol and requested the Redding Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit to investigate the case.

"Wininger has a long history of drug abuse and violence toward law enforcement," the release said.

The cause of death is pending an autopsy. The names of the officers involved are being withheld pending the investigation's outcome. They are not on administrative leave.