When answering a call on Berger being disorderly in a gym, Deputy Steve Paynter approached him in the street and tasered him. Berger ran and resisted. Deputy Shawn Audie arrived and Berger was tasered 2-4 times. While the three struggled, Audie put him in two lateral vascular neck restraints (sleeper holds). "Berger stopped resisting, at which time deputies noticed that he had stopped breathing, according to Washington State Patrol Trooper Jeff Sevigny. Although the cause of White's death was initially reported as taser, the autopsy report showed asphyxiation. In June 2014, White's father filed a claim for $100m and started www.willbfund.org.
Victim's Name: William Sage Berger
Agency Responsible: Spokane County Sheriff's Office
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Race: White
Date of Death: June 13, 2013
County: Spokane
Cause of Death: Asphyxiated
Official Disposition: Justified
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: No
Armed: Unarmed/Did Not Have an Actual Weapon
Weapon: unarmed
Geography: Suburban