AKRON — The former inmate whose heart stopped after he was shot with a Taser at the Summit County Jail Feb. 21 was moved from Akron General Medical Center to a mental health facility.

Attorney Eddie Sipplen said today that Gregory Dillard, 21, of Akron, is being treated at Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare.

"He was taken directly from the hospital to Northcoast," said Sipplen. "His medical condition was well enough to be removed from ICU and then be moved from the hospital to Northcoast."

At the time of the incident, Summit County Sheriff Drew Alexander said Dillard was being held on two cases from Akron Municipal Court. He had served his time on one of the cases and was being released on bond on the second.



But he flooded his cell as he was about to be released, ripped off his clothes and jumped up and down on his bed, officials said.

Officers opened a cell door in the mental health unit to give Dillard clean clothes and the inmate attacked two deputies. One of the officers used his Taser, striking Dillard once in the chest area.

Alexander said Dillard's heart stopped momentarily. Jail nurses and emergency service workers helped revive him, and he was taken to the Akron hospital.

"You just couldn't reason with him," Alexander said.

Sipplen said Dillard had been on medication for mental disorders but had not been given any for about a week leading up to the accident.

A spokeswoman for the sheriff's department said the allegation is "absolutely untrue."

"We never deny anyone their medication," said Chris Croce. "We can not force someone to take their medication. On Feb. 19, the nursing staff was put in restraints because he would not take his medication. He was out of control and they feared he would hurt himself. After he calmed down, he agreed to take his medication and was removed from the restraints."

She said he was given his medication in his cell, but does not know if he took it or not.

Sheriff's deputies said Dillard has been in the County Jail 11 different times for various crimes involving drugs and violence.

Sipplen said he wanted to determine if the Taser device was faulty or whether the officers were improperly trained.