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Vigil remembers man who died after police used stun gun

<p>Family and friends took part in a Pelham Bay vigil Thursday night to mark one year since a Bronx man died after police twice discharged a stun gun on him.</p>

News 12 Staff

Nov 3, 2017, 2:11 AM

Updated 2,662 days ago

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Family and friends took part in a Pelham Bay vigil Thursday night to mark one year since a Bronx man died after police twice discharged a stun gun on him.
Family members continued their calls for justice for Ariel Galarza, saying he was wrongfully killed.
According to police, officers entered the basement of Galarza's Pelham Bay apartment after a neighbor reported that Galarza had a knife and was yelling. Investigators say Sgt. William Melrose struck the 49-year-old with a stun gun when he threatened officers with a hot sauce bottle.
Police discharged a stun gun at least one more time, and Galarza went into cardiac arrest. He later died at a nearby hospital.
The state attorney general took over the investigation and eventually decided not to file charges against Melrose. Relatives of Galarza say they disagree with the decision.
Attendees of Thursday's vigil say Galarza was a good, loving and caring man with a big heart and no criminal record. They say he struggled with mental illness but was not defined by it.