B.C. civil liberties files second complaint over Taser death at airport

November 13, 2007
The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER - B.C.'s civil rights watchdog has filed a second complaint in connection with the death of man at Vancouver airport last month after he was hit with a Taser.The civil liberties association says the RCMP misrepresented the facts of Robert Dziekanski's death and unreasonably seized and suppressed a videotape of the incident. The tape shows the man being shot with a Taser and it was eventually returned to the bystander who took it. It is expected to be released to the public on Wednesday.

But association president Jason Gratl says he's concerned the police were trying to spin a story of what happened at the airport that would place their officers in a better light. The association had already filed a complaint about the RCMP's actions and the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP has launched its own investigation as well.

Dziekanski died after spending 10 hours in a secure area of the airport before a confrontation with police that ended with him being shot by a Taser.