Former Louisiana Officer Indicted in Taser Death

WINNFIELD, La. --

A former police officer accused of repeatedly jolting a handcuffed man with a Taser before he died has been indicted on a manslaughter charge.

A spokesman for the Winn Parish district attorney's office says grand jurors also indicted former Winnfield police officer Scott Nugent on a charge of malfeasance in office.

Grand jurors spent two days hearing evidence in the death of 21-year-old Baron Pikes before they handed up the indictments Wednesday evening.

Pikes was shocked nine times with a 50,000-volt Taser as he was arrested on a drug possession warrant in January in central Louisiana.

Nugent was fired but is appealing. Nugent's lawyer says his client followed department protocol and didn't use excessive force.