Cocaine killed man, not taser, inquiry hears

October 1, 2007
Trish Audette, Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON - An overdose of cocaine is the only thing that killed a man who was Tasered on Christmas Eve in 2005, a fatality inquiry heard today.

Alessandro Fiacco, 33, did not die because he was Tasered, said Dr. Bernard Bannach, assistant chief medical examiner for Alberta.

"There were no other findings that would lead to death by themselves," Bannach told the inquiry. "As far as I am aware, there is no evidence in the scientific literature that Tasering a healthy individual will cause their death."

Fiacco was seen yelling and thrashing at the intersection of 75th Avenue and 113th Street on the afternoon of Dec. 24, 2005. When police arrived, Fiacco resisted arrest and an officer Tasered him three times in 17 seconds in order to subdue him.

He had a heart attack in the ambulance and was pronounced dead in the University Hospital's emergency room. At least 12 minutes passed between the time he was Tasered and his death, Bannach said, which rules out electrocution.

Later this afternoon, an Edmonton police service detective testified an officer used his Taser at 3:13 p.m. on Dec. 24. Paramedics in the ambulance with Fiacco reported his cardiac arrest at 3:41 p.m.

In his last moments, Fiacco complained that he felt snakes or bees on his skin, which Bannach said is typical in those who have high levels of cocaine in their systems. Anything more than one milligram per litre of blood is dangerous or life-threatening.

Fiacco had 5.32 milligrams of cocaine per litre of blood in his leg and groin area, and 2.18 milligrams per litre in his heart, the autopsy found.

Police were first called to the McKernan neighbourhood on Christmas Eve two years ago because of the noise Fiacco was making in the middle of the street.

Det. Len Hudyma testified today officers found Fiacco's rental car nearby; he had first rented the car in late November, and he had been staying at a west-end motel since Dec. 1, 2005. The motel manager told Hudyma that Fiacco had never been any trouble, and said Fiacco was either coming from or going to work on a pipeline up north.

Fiacco's parents were in the courtroom today, but declined to comment.

The fatality inquiry, which is set for the next two weeks, is taking place because Fiacco died in police custody. It will not assign blame, but the provincial court judge hearing the inquiry can make recommendations to avoid similar deaths in the future.