MOBERLY - A coroner's inquest will be used to determine if a crime occurred when Moberly police officers used a Taser on a man hours before his death.

According to an article in the Moberly Monitor-Index, the Missouri State Highway Patrol recently finished an investigation into the death of Stanley James William Harlan, 23, and turned over the results to Randolph County Coroner Gerald Luntsford.

Luntsford said a coroner's inquest will take place to determine whether the cause of death was accidental or if a felony was committed. According to state statues, if the death is not found to be accidental, then a determination would have to be made as to whether it is justifiable or a chargeable crime.

Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Fusselman will not prosecute the case in order to avoid any conflict of interest claims. The Circuit Coudt will appoint a special prosecutor.

Harlan was stopped by Moberly Police at 12:30 a.m. Aug. 28 for driving erratically. According to the police report, Harlan was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated but resisted arrests.

A Taser was used on Harlan twice. He became unresponsive and was taken to Moberly Regional Medical Center where he died less than two hours later.

The four officers involved in the incident are on administrative leave. The Taser was taken as evidence, leaving the department without one.