Family worries tasering stains memory of man

May 10, 2009
By Sherri Zickefoose, Calgary Herald

Grant Prentice's sudden and very public death after being Tasered by police has overshadowed the life of a loving and friendly man, his family says.

Under the glare of a national spotlight, Prentice's memory threatens to be forever tied to how he died, rather than how he lived, grieving relatives say.

"We will miss this outgoing friendly man who loved everybody he came in contact with," Prentice's mother said in a statement to the Herald.

The family, a longtime fixture in Brooks, says a strong network of local friends has been a small comfort during their time of shock and sorrow.

Prentice's father, who sits on the city's council and its police commission, is well known in the southern Alberta city, 185 kilometres east of Calgary.

"The community has come together to support us and has been a great help throughout this difficult time," the family said.

Relatives say Prentice, 40, was kind and "would give the shirt off his back to help you out."

On Wednesday night, Prentice was seen running down the street, knocking on doors and pleading to be let inside homes.

Residents called RCMP and police deployed a Taser once.

Prentice quickly went into medical distress and was rushed to the Brooks Hospital, where he died later that night.

It could be weeks before investigators know the official cause of Prentice's death.

An autopsy was performed on Friday in Calgary to determine how he died.

Results of an important component, toxicology tests, could still be weeks away.

Police say it's not clear if the Taser made contact with Prentice.