Fire forced use of taser, Vancouver police say

August 16, 2004
Canadian Press

Almost two months after a man died in Vancouver police custody following a jolt from a taser, the force announced Monday they had no choice because a fire forced them to move quickly.

Police now say a fire at the Continental Hotel forced two officers to move into the washroom where Robert Bagnell, 54, had barricaded himself.

Deputy Chief Const. Doug LePard said smoke was filling the building and the officers couldn't stay there.

“They certainly couldn't leave Mr. Bagnell behind. The call to arrest Mr. Bagnell had now turned into a rescue.”

He said usually police would have just waited until the man was ready to come out.

“That would be our normal strategy, is to wait the guy out. There would be no reason to intervene.”

Mr. Bagnell was zapped twice with a Taser during the arrest and stopped breathing.

Ambulance attendants tried for more than an hour to revive the man.

His death prompted the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner to order a review into the use of the taser to subdue suspects.

Last week, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police announced it has commissioned a comprehensive review of research, reports and data on the use of tasers in Canada and around the world.

The review will be conducted by the Canadian Police Research Centre, a partnership of the chiefs association, the RCMP and the National Research Council.

At least six people have died in Canada after being shocked by tasers.

The public and Mr. Bagnell's family only learned a taser was involved in Mr. Bagnell's death a month after he died.

The Deputy Chief couldn't say Monday why it took even longer to release the details of Mr. Bagnell's arrest.

“If it was an oversight then we apologize for that. Because obviously that is important information.”

Mr. Bagnell was experiencing a “psychotic episode,” which Deputy Chief LePard said was likely triggered by cocaine.

“My understanding is that he would have died from the level of cocaine that was in his blood stream at time. Whether or not that's what killed him we do not know.”

When police moved into the fifth floor washroom where Mr. Bagnell had barricaded himself, he was naked and covered in blood because of a cut to his leg.

Mr. LePard says the two officers tried to calm him down, but he grabbed on to fixtures in the bathroom and refused to leave.

“The situation was urgent. Smoke continued to fill the building. In order to get Mr. Bagnell to release his grip the officers touched Mr. Bagnell with the Taser for less than two seconds.”

A report has been provided to Crown counsel to review if charges are necessary.