PITTSBURGH — A man who died after police subdued him with a Taser had 17 bruises and abrasions that were caused by police, an attorney for the man's family said Monday.

"By process of elimination, there's nothing else that could have happened" other than that police injured Andre Thomas, 37, while subduing him on Aug. 4, attorney Howard Messer said.

Thomas died in a hospital early the next day. Autopsies conducted by both the Allegheny County Medical Examiner and a pathologist hired by Thomas' family have not led to a cause of death.

Messer questioned the police account of Thomas' death and suggested outside investigations could be warranted.

He said police might have been too quick to use the Taser and questioned District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr.'s suggestion that Thomas's erratic behavior might have been caused by "excited delirium."

Excited delirium is defined as a condition in which the heart races wildly — often because of drug use or mental illness — and finally gives out.

"We are very suspicious of the use of the new diagnosis of excited delirium." Messer said. The condition could be "an excuse, rather than a diagnosis," he said.

"I've been in practice 37 years, and the only time I hear excited delirium used is when it's in connection with a Taser death," Messer said.

On the night of his encounter with police, Thomas had been at a picnic where he had been drinking Wild Irish Rose, a fortified wine, Messer said. A friend drove him home and, along the way, Thomas became excited, he said. His friend dropped him off and didn't see him again.

Thomas began knocking on doors in the Pittsburgh suburb of Swissvale, asking for help, Messer said.

"He was in an excited state on that day and understood that he was having a problem," Messer said. "He wanted help, and he asked for help."

Allegheny County police said officers responded to a report that Thomas was acting erratically and trying to enter people's homes shortly before midnight. They said Swissvale police resorted to the Taser after Thomas refused to follow their commands and made "furtive movements" toward them.

Witnesses said one officer appeared to punch Thomas in the back of the head and another officer also stomped on the man's back after he was shocked with the Taser.