One killed as authorities bust drug ring in central Oklahoma

CHICKASHA, Okla. (AP) -- Authorities say one man was killed and more than a dozen people were arrested Friday in drug busts in Chickasha, Lawton and Oklahoma City.<br/><br/>Officials say a Chickasha police

Friday, January 28th 2005, 10:21 am

By: News On 6

CHICKASHA, Okla. (AP) -- Authorities say one man was killed and more than a dozen people were arrested Friday in drug busts in Chickasha, Lawton and Oklahoma City.

Officials say a Chickasha police officer used a Taser to shoot one man who swallowed cocaine, then ran from police.

The man was taken to a Chickasha hospital where he later died. The names of the officer and the dead man were not immediately released.

Grady County Sheriff Kieran McMullen says the man's body will be sent to the state medical examiner's office to determine the cause of death. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation will investigate the officer's use of the Taser.

FBI Agent Salvador Hernandez says the investigation began eight months ago after police began getting reports of illegal drug and gang-related activity in the Chickasha area.

Hernandez says up to 14 arrests are expected Friday, most of them in Chickasha. He says seven will face federal drug charges and seven face state drug charges.

More than 100 officers with the FBI, the District Six Drug Task Force, the Grady and McClain County Sheriff's Offices and Chickasha Police Department were involved in Friday's bust.