Man tasered by Chilliwack RCMP now in "extremely grave" condition in hospital

November 20, 2007
CKNW News

A 36 year old Chilliwack (British Columbia) man is near death after being tasered by RCMP at a local store last night. Police are saying they did everything they could to subdue him. The taser gun, pepper spray and a baton were all used on the man. He is now in "extremely grave" condition in hospital. RCMP Lower Mainland district commander Peter German says the first two responding officers called in two more before the combative man was subdued. "No one ever wishes to see an outcome where someone is injured. Our thoughts are with his family, as well as the responding officers during this difficult time....because of the possibility police use of force could be a factor in the subjects medical injuries, the RCMP has election to engage the in custody related investigative plan and protocols." IHIT, Abbotsford police and the Major Crimes Unit from Vancouver Island are all investigating.

Chair-Initiated Complaint
In-custody serious injury in
Chilliwack, British Columbia
November 19, 2007

Paul E. Kennedy, Chair of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC), the federal agency that provides independent civilian review of RCMP members' conduct in performing their policing duties, has initiated a complaint into the conduct of RCMP members present at, or engaged in, the arrest of a male individual on November 19, 2007, and the adequacy of the subsequent criminal investigation, pursuant to subsection 45.37(1) of the RCMP Act.

In his complaint, Mr. Kennedy indicates that given the ongoing expressions of public concern as they relate to (1) the degree and type of force required by police officers when effecting an arrest and, as in this case, the specific concerns raised in respect of the use of a conducted energy weapon (Taser), including related policy procedures and guidelines for deployment; and (2) the propriety of the police investigating the police, he is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to investigate the conduct of all RCMP members involved in this incident and the adequacy of the investigation conducted by the team tasked with the subsequent investigation.