Authorities are investigating the death of a man in police custody Thursday night who became unresponsive after he was tased by officers at the scene of a stabbing at a Cohasset home.

The incident began when Cohasset police responded to a 911 call just before 10 p.m. for a report of a “disturbance” at a residence on Church Street, according to the Norfolk District Attorney’s office. When officers entered the home, they allegedly found a 25-year-old man, identified by authorities as Erich Stelzer, assaulting a 24-year-old woman with a knife and other weapons.

“In an effort to rescue the victim and disarm Stelzer, Cohasset Police Officers used tasers to subdue Stelzer,” Peggie Krippendorf, a spokeswoman for the Norfolk District Attorney’s office, said in a statement Friday afternoon. “The female victim was able to escape from Stelzer and was taken to a local area hospital for treatment.”


The woman sustained extensive stabbing and slashing wounds, according to the DA’s office.

EMTs “immediately” began to provide medical treatment to Stelzer, but, while he was being transported to an area hospital, he became unresponsive and later died.

“An autopsy will occur in the very near future, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death,” Krippendorf said.

The investigation into the incident remains “active, open and ongoing,” according to the DA’s office.