CHICAGO — Little more than a week after Homer Taylor Jr. was paroled from an Illinois prison, he clashed with police again and this time the results were deadly.
Taylor was the man who Chicago Police say threatened officers with a sharp object as he walked, open beer in hand, in the 5000 block of West Washington on Saturday afternoon.
Police Tasered the 39-year-old Chicago man and he died a short time later.
An autopsy conducted Sunday was inconclusive, and further tests will have to be done to determine how Taylor died, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
Taylor, whose last known address was in the 300 block of North Central Park, was paroled from the Illinois prison system on Oct. 10, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections and the man's family.
He had been serving a sentence for drug and forgery convictions and his prison record dates back to 1999.
His sister said Sunday that she had met with her brother twice since he was released from prison, but noted that he was afraid to go back.
The father of three daughters was concerned there was a warrant for his arrest on another matter, according to his sister, who declined to be identified for this story.
Hours before his death he had contacted his sister, hoping to pick up some clothing and other belongings. She said he seemed to be OK and there didn't seem to be anything wrong.
But when police on bike patrol in the South Austin neighborhood saw Taylor about 2 p.m. Saturday, his behavior was described as erratic.
As police approached he threatened officers with what appeared to be a sharp object, according to initial police reports.
When he resisted arrest, officers used a Taser gun. Taylor died at the scene.
Police said it appeared he had been under the influence of drugs.
The case is being investigated by the Independent Police Review Authority.
Taylor's family has plenty of questions about his death, particularly the part where he's accused of battling with police.
"He had his issues, but he was a loving person — he never did anything to harm others," Taylor's sister said. "He wasn't a fighter — if there was ever a problem, he'd walk away."
