Fire prompted Taser use, say police

August 16, 2004
CBC News

Vancouver Police have released more details about the events leading to the arrest and death of a 44-year-old man arrested in late June.

Robert Bagnell died in police custody on June 23 after officers used a Taser to subdue him.

But police didn't reveal for another month that Bagnell had been shot with a stun gun.

Now police have have revealed that a fire in the hotel where Bagnell had barricaded himself in a bathroom, forced them to move in and use the Taser.

Deputy Chief Constable Doug LePard says officers had planned to wait for Bagnell to calm down – as he was alone, and was in no danger.

"Just as they were settling down to wait, the fire alarm in the building went off, smoke began to fill the building, the police could not stay there any longer and they could certainly could not leave Mr. Bagnell behind."

LePard says two officers tried to remove Bagnell – and used a Taser only as a last resort.

This is the first time since the incident occurred, that police have mentioned there was a fire in the building, or that a fire played a role in the decision to use a Taser.

LePard apologized for not making the information public sooner. "I'm not sure why that information wasn't provided. If it was an oversight, if was our oversight then we apologize for that."

Police have maintained Bagnall had "lethal" levels of cocaine in his bloodstream when he died. However, no official cause of death has been released.