Newfoundland man in critical condition after RCMP taser him

December 21, 2008
Canadian Press

SANDRINGHAM, N.L. — RCMP say they were forced to use a stun gun on an axe-wielding man during a violent confrontation at a residence in a small community in central Newfoundland.

Police said the 29-year-old was listed in critical condition Sunday in hospital in Gander, N.L.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Wayne Newell said in an interview the two responding officers were forced to use a Taser on the man after he struck the front of their vehicle with an axe on Friday.

Newell said under the circumstances, the officers essentially had to choose between lethal force or the Taser.

"Our members had to act with just a moment's notice with the threat that was imposed on them and they deployed the conductive energy weapon (Taser) in order to ensure their own safety."

Newell said members from the Glovertown, N.L., detachment were called to a residence in Sandringham, N.L., where a man was reportedly wielding a knife and behaving violently.

He said while officers were making their way to the scene, the suspect called RCMP dispatch to report he had a shotgun and an axe and intended to cause harm.

When police arrived, Newell said the man became immediately violent and attacked the vehicle.

He said the officers backed away from the man and at that point, a family member intervened and tried to take the axe from his hands.

"That person backed off to a certain degree and the members had to deploy the conductive energy weapon in order to safely bring the person under control," said Newell.

Newell said the man fell to the ground after being hit and was quickly handcuffed. He was reportedly conscious and "continued to be violent" when he was placed in the back of the vehicle.

Newell said an ambulance arrived soon after and the man was taken to hospital.

He said the man was conscious and still aggressive at the time and it's too early to tell whether his current medical condition is related to being hit with the stun gun.

"We are working with the hospital staff and we want to determine whether any drugs were in his system," said Newell.

Newell said senior RCMP officials will conduct a mandatory review of the incident.

The man has been charged with three counts of assault with a weapon, uttering threats, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, two charges of mischief, and seven charges of breach of an undertaking.