Man hit by taser and died was Vietnam veteran

Man hit by Taser was Vietnam veteran
Family mystified by death of 61-year-old
Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era
Updated Nov 08, 2010 21:04
Harvestview S

His family was mystified Monday about what had happened to Neill. They did not know what precipitated the struggle, saying that Neill was a gentle man who wrestled with demons left from his service in Vietnam, where he served as an ambulance driver for the Marines.

A man who died Saturday after scuffling with police and being hit by a Taser was a Vietnam veteran who was haunted by his memories of the war, family members and a friend said Monday.

He also was a widower, a father of three grown children and a grandfather of nine.

Family and neighbors are waiting to hear more about the circumstances leading to the struggle that ended with the death of Robert Neill, 61, of Mount Joy Borough.

The incident began with a call to police by Neill, who said he was being harassed, police said.

But when police arrived at Harvestview South apartments early Saturday morning to talk to Neill, they said he became combative and aggressive. After he moved aggressively toward an officer and did not listen to their commands, police used a Taser, a gun that delivers an electric shock, on Neill.

Police used the gun again a short time later, as well as Mace, or pepper spray, when the struggle continued.

Mount Joy Borough police responded first and Susquehanna Regional Police and Pennsylvania State Police assisted them.


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