Mom disputes account of son's death after Taser incident

The medical examiner's office is awaiting toxicology results on a 23-year-old man who died a day after a police officer used a Taser to subdue him, authorities said today.

Doctors told police that Jairious McGhee apparently was suffering from viral meningitis when he was taken to Tampa General Hospital for psychiatric evaluation Saturday, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

McGhee died Sunday night. An initial medical examiner's office report lists no obvious cause of death.

Viral meningitis is a fairly common disease caused by a number of viruses. Symptoms can include a high fever and severe headache; it's serious but rarely fatal.

McGhee's mother doesn't believe he had the disease. She said he appeared healthy hours before the incident.

"He hugged and kissed me and said, 'Mom, I love you. I'll see you when you get back,'" Melody Thompson said.

According to police, a motorist flagged down Officer Greg Preyor about 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Kennedy Boulevard and Dale Mabry Highway to report a crazy man was beating on cars.

Preyor approached the man, later identified as McGhee, and asked whether he was OK. McGhee had urinated on himself, and had bloodshot eyes and dry lips, police said.

McGhee lunged at Preyor and tried to punch the officer, who fired his Taser, striking McGhee in the chest, McElroy said. McGhee remained aggressive, so Preyor pointed his gun at the ground and told him to calm down.

McGhee complied but then charged Preyor and was taken to the ground, McElroy said. McGhee had a 105-degree temperature when he arrived at TGH.

Police determined Preyor's deployment of his Taser was appropriate.

"The officer's intention was to get Mr. McGhee help," McElroy said. "The level of force used was entirely determined by the actions of Mr. McGhee."

Preyor and other officers who came into contact with McGhee were told to take antibiotics. They have shown no symptoms of viral meningitis.

Thompson disputes the police account.

She said her son, who lived in Carrollwood, was smart and energetic. A chef, he hoped to open an international cuisine restaurant.

"He was a loving, kind boy," Thompson said. "He got along with everybody."

Todd Wills, a University of South Florida doctor specializing in infectious diseases, said it's rare for viral meningitis to cause the type of behavior police attribute to McGhee.

"It's very unlikely that viral meningitis by itself could do all of that," he said.

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