Police in the northern California city of San Jose say a man has died after being jolted with a Taser, apparently the sixth such death since the department began using the stun guns in 2004.

The man, who police said appeared to be in his 20s, got into a struggle with two officers when they tried to arrest him in the backyard of a home late Wednesday (local time).

"The struggle was very, very violent to get him into custody," said police spokesman Mike Sullivan.

"Some time during the struggle, the officers did deploy a Taser."

One officer was cut in the face during the scuffle and the other had a leg injury.

Police said both were treated and released from a hospital.

Police watchdog groups said the death is the sixth in San Jose connected with use of a Taser, though police could not immediately confirm that figure.

The city has been sued in at least three of those cases.

- AFP