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Wednesday, May 23, 2007

SIU charges Halton officers in taser incident

May 23, 2007
Bob Mitchell, Toronto Star

Three Halton police officers have been charged with several criminal offences in connection with subduing an elderly Oakville man with a taser.

Gerry Morgan, 79, was hospitalized following the Nov. 25, 2006 incident and later died. However, the province's special investigations unit (SIU), which laid the charges, today said his death wasn't related to the alleged criminal actions.

SIU director James Cornish said investigators believe the Halton police officers were criminally responsible for serious injuries sustained by Morgan.

According to the SIU, police went to a call for assistance at a home on Marine Dr. in Oakville about 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 25, 2006.

Once inside the residence, officers used an ARWEN (anti riot weapon enfield) and Morgan was struck with a rubber projectile on his arm. It's alleged he sustained a serious injury to his upper arm as a result of being struck.

Officers also used a taser on Morgan, who is alleged to have fallen to the floor and broken his hip. He was transported to nearby Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital where he was treated for his injuries and later released.

The SIU said Morgan was re-admitted to hospital a short time later and died there on May 4, 2007.

"There is no clear evidence from the SIU investigation that Mr. Morgan's death is linked to the Nov. 25 incident," SIU spokesperson Rose Bliss said.

After an extensive SIU investigation, Cornish concluded there were reasonable grounds to believe Halton police officers Joe Davis, Richard Dodds and Matthew Kohler committed criminal offences.

All three officers have now been charged with assault causing bodily harm and unlawfully causing bodily harm. As well, Davis and Kohler are also charged with assault with a weapon: an extended range impact weapon, also known as an ARWEN.

In addition, Dodds and Kohler have been charged with assault with a weapon in connection with using the taser device.

The officers are to appear next in a Milton court May 28.

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