Autopsies thrown into question

Grant William Prentice, 40 - Brooks, AB - May 6, 2009 - RCMP - tasered at least 2 times - "Official" cause of death: acute cocaine toxicity and "the medical examiner also concluded the taser did not play a role in the death"

February 17, 2011
Alex Mccuaig, Medicine Hat News

A Calgary pathologist whose work is being called into question was involved in at least two investigations stemming from deaths in southeastern Alberta, the News confirmed Wednesday.

Concerns about the quality of Dr. Michael Belenky's work arose publicly after Calgary Police requested a review on Jan. 26 of one of the pathologist's reports.

Alberta Justice announced five days later that 12 cases handled by Belenky at Alberta Medical Examiners Office Calgary will be reviewed.

The News learned autopsies connected to the February 2010 alleged homicide of Morbe Buluk in Medicine Hat and the fatality of Grant Prentice, who died during an arrest in May 2009 in Brooks, were performed by Belenky.

Regarding Prentice's death, Cliff Purvis, director of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) — which investigates deaths involving police — said, "he was the medical examiner."

But Purvis added, "the findings of the medical examiner's office didn't rest solely on Dr. Belenky's opinion and won't affect the outcome of our file."

Died during arrest

Prentice, 40, died after Brooks RCMP officers used a Taser and physical force to subdue the man after witnesses reported he was acting erratically. The ASIRT investigation cleared Mounties of any wrongdoing, attributing the death to acute cocaine toxicity. Purvis stated the toxicology report wasn't conducted by Belenky.

"That was done by a separate expert in the medical examiner's office," Purvis said.

ASIRT's role, regardless of the ME's report, he added, is to investigate whether police committed any criminal offence. In this case, ASIRT found, police actions were justified.

"I'm not reopening the investigation because it has little impact on our case," said Purvis.

Informed of Belenky's connection to the investigation of his son's death, Bill Prentice said he suspected the pathologist's involvement in the file when Alberta Justice announced its review of Belenky's examinations. "It makes you wonder," said Prentice. "The whole thing sounds to me like it could have been a problem." He said he never had much faith in the report into his son's death. "We could have raised a bunch of hell but guess what's going to happen? Nothing... They'll deny everything no matter what.'

Anniversary Approaches

As she prepares to mourn the one-year anniversary of her son Morbe's death on Family Day, Stela Buluk said she feels lost without her boy. Morbe Buluk was involved in a physical altercation on the evening of Feb. 17, 2010 with a 26-year-old man in Medicine Hat. Afterwards, he made his way home but began to act erratically and the family contacted police. The 18-year-old was taken into custody and was examined by paramedics, according to Medicine Hat police, but was found in medical distress a few hours later in his cell on the morning of Feb. 18. He died three days later at a Calgary hospital. A Medicine Hat man is currently facing manslaughter charges in connection with this case. Buluk's mother said she was informed three weeks ago that the her son's autopsy will be reviewed. "I hope at the end they do the right thing," said Buluk, who emigrated from Sudan with her three children and husband in 2003. "I'm struggling. I feel like I'm stuck in one place and don't know what to do. You just lose a son like that and now you don't know what's going to happen. You don't know," said Buluk. That autopsy was conducted on Feb. 24, 2010. However, questions began to surface last December when a local defence lawyer told the court he hadn't received the ME's report nine months after the autopsy was completed.

Alberta Justice spokesperson David Deer said the department cannot currently comment on specific cases but said Belenky left the ME's office prior to the announcement of the review. Deer added Belenky's departure was not connected to the investigation. "The first goal of the review is to review every criminal file this pathologist worked on regardless of whether it involved a conviction or acquittal," said Deer. "We'll take whatever time necessary to do that," Deer said Belenky had the recognized qualifications to practise forensic pathology in the province and was licenced by the College of Physicians & Surgeons. "Dr. Belenky certainly did have the credentials as well as being licenced," said Deer.

Medicine Hat defence lawyer Bill Cocks said he has never seen the work of a pathologist called into question like this in his 35 years of practicing law in Alberta. "The pathologist in some kinds of murder cases is critical," said Cocks. "We can't put the pieces together ourselves and we rely on this person's expertise." He said evidence presented by a pathologist is rarely questioned. "Who's to challenge it? Most people don't have the resources to hire their own pathologist and conduct the examination or review the report to make their own determination."

Alberta Justice has announced it will launch fatality inquires for both Morbe Buluk and Grant Prentice but dates have yet to be set.

Mounties cleared in death by dash cam

January 31, 2010
By NADIA MOHARIB, QMI Agency

CALGARY - Footage caught by a police dash-board camera offered a rare but crucial witness that helped clear five Mounties of any wrongdoing in an in-custody death.

The Brooks RCMP officers involved in the May 6, 2009 incident were cleared earlier this month by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team that looked into their actions and the use of a Taser on a man resisting arrest.

After two jolts with a stun-gun, Grant Prentice died but ASIRT found it was due to cocaine use and not the weapon officers were forced to use.

ASIRT director Clifton Purvis said it is rare to have that sort of evidence but clearly it offers another independent vantage point to support or contradict versions of events from witnesses or police officers involved.

Calgary police Insp. Luch Berti with the investigative support section said the case speaks to the many advantages technology can offer to either exonerate police of any wrongdoing or hold up allegations of misconduct.

“I think it’s excellent,” he said.

“Obviously, it has to be put into context by humans but it’s a video recollection of what transpired.”

While 80% of RCMP cruisers in Alberta are equipped with in-car cameras, Calgary cops currently have just 15, and exclusively in traffic unit vehicles.

The aim behind all high-tech additions to the arsenal is to enhance officer safety, said Berti.

Dash-board cameras can, for instance, offer a deterrent to those who would act aggressively or inappropriately towards police during something as benign as a traffic stop.

“If they knew police had video on them maybe they would behave better or react differently,” Berti said.

It “works both ways,” he said, offering another vantage point should there be questions of police conduct.

The Police Association president, John Dooks, said another snapshot of a particular scenario is always an advantage.

“We are in full support of the in-car camera system and as demonstrated in recent incidents it will be a valuable tool in dealing with complaints and identifying any training issues,” he said.

“The recordings will provide an accurate picture of what happened and assist any investigation process.”

ASIRT investigation finds RCMP actions justified

January 20, 2010
Government of Alberta

Criminal charges will not be laid against two RCMP constables in the death of Grant William Prentice in Brooks last spring. The decision follows an investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT).

On May 6, two RCMP officers responded to a call about a man behaving erratically and attempting to force his way into a home. On arrival, police tried to handcuff Prentice and used a taser in push-stun mode on him twice. Neither taser deployment appeared to have any effect on the man. Three more RCMP officers arrived and all five officers struggled with Prentice and eventually placed him in handcuffs. While being taken to an RCMP vehicle, Prentice appeared to be in medical distress. Emergency medical services were on scene and immediately provided treatment. Prentice was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The medical examiner found Prentice’s death was caused by acute cocaine toxicity. The autopsy revealed he had more than double the amount of cocaine in his body than is normally considered life-threatening. The medical examiner also concluded the taser did not play a role in the death of Prentice.

The taser involved was independently tested and was found to be operating properly.

The executive director of ASIRT has reviewed the file and has concluded the actions of the police officers were justified in the circumstances.

ASIRT is a provincially funded unit lead by a civilian director. It is mandated to effectively, independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person as well as sensitive allegations of police misconduct.

-30-

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Clifton Purvis
Executive Director
Alberta Serious Incident Response Team
403-592-4306

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.

No charges for Mounties who Tasered Alta. man before he died

January 20, 2010
Calgary Herald

Two RCMP officers will not be charged in the death of an Alberta man who was Tasered prior to his arrest last year.

Grant William Prentice was arrested in Brooks, Alta., on May 6 after he was found acting erratically and trying to force his way into a home. RCMP officers were trying to handcuff Prentice when he resisted, police said. Officers used the Taser twice.

Brooks is about 185 kilometres southeast of Calgary.

The Taser didn't appear to affect the man at the time, but Prentice showed signs of "medical distress" when he was finally arrested, police said. He was pronounced dead at hospital.

Investigators from the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team said Wednesday the Taser did not play a role in the death. The autopsy report showed the man died of a cocaine overdose, the team said.

The team reviews serious injuries or deaths that may have resulted from the actions of police officers.

Questions still unanswered for Prentice Family in son’s death

May 26, 2009
Sandra Stanway, Brooks Bulletin

There are so many questions the Prentice family has about their son’s death including why parents Shirley and Bill did not have a chance to say goodbye.

On May 6 Brooks resident Grant Prentice, 40, died as a result of an altercation with police. A Taser was deployed but its use is under investigation.

“The incident happened about 7:30 p.m. on May 6. He passed away in hospital at 8:25 p.m,” said Prentice.

“The special agents came over at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning. They came to the door and let us know that Grant had passed away,” said Bill Prentice.

He added that he asked why the family was not notified earlier and they were told when there is a death like that it becomes a crime scene and it gets turned over to Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.

The parents arranged to see Grant’s body at 11 a.m. that day.

“They got hold of us and said the body was already on its way to Calgary,” he said.
Asking how the body was identified without the family present, Prentice was told fingerprints were used.

“It was frustrating,” he said.

The family let the body go on to Calgary, though they know they could have had it returned to Brooks for a viewing.

“We chose not to. I saw him the morning before. He’d been over to the house with Shirley the night before. I just thought it best to leave it be,” he said.

The family is waiting for the results of the autopsy which according to Clifford Purvis, executive director of ASIRT, is still a few weeks away.

As time goes by Bill has been reflecting on what happened. He said he’s not blaming anyone.

“My only concern is I’m not too sure if the Taser was really required. Hopefully when they get the results back it’ll tell me what he had in his system,” Prentice said.

Brooks Taser death treated as a homicide

May 24, 2009
GILLIAN SLADE, Medicine Hat News

The decision to send Grant Prentice’s body to Calgary before his family was notified of his death on May 6, after he had been Tasered by RCMP, was based on the need for a secure environment.

Clifton Purvis, executive director of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, clarified the decision in an interview with the News on Friday morning.

“In a situation like this it is treated as a homicide,” said Purvis. “As soon as a medical officer is engaged they get custody of the body.”

Brooks RCMP were called to investigate an incident in the city on May 6 about 7:30 p.m. and in the process of trying to arrest Grant Prentice he was Tasered by an RCMP officer. He was subsequently taken to Brooks Hospital and pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m. The family was not notified until 8:30 a.m. May 7.

Although there was a tentative identification made of the body by members of the RCMP, Purvis explained they found it necessary to make a conclusive identification before notifying the family.

“It would not be appropriate to ask the family to identify the body when there was not conclusive evidence that it was their son,” said Purvis. “Finger prints were taken and sent to Ottawa for conclusive identification,” said Purvis.

The process of identifying the finger prints takes a long time, according to Purvis, as the computer sifts through a data base to find a match.

Alberta Serious Incident Response Team includes two team members, one a civilian and the other an RCMP officer, who are responsible for liaison with the family.

Purvis did not feel there was any concern regarding the way this situation had been handled.

While the family may still not be given answers to their questions due to the on-going investigation, Purvis said they were welcome to call him.

Family of man who died after being Tasered by police search for answers

May 22, 2009
iNews 880

The sister of a man who died after being Tasered by RCMP say his family wasn't given a chance to identify his body before it was sent to Calgary for an autopsy.

Grant William Prentice, 40, was zapped with a Taser after Brooks RCMP say he struggled with police while they were attempting to take him into custody on May 6.

Police say he was pronounced dead at Brooks hospital about an hour later. His sister, Corla Rathwell of Medicine Hat, says her parents weren't notified of his death until nearly 12 hours later.

She also said she was `robbed' of the chance to see her brother's body before it underwent an autopsy, and there has been no information about what the autopsy found.

Brooks RCMP referred all questions to Clifton Purvis, executive director of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which is investigating the circumstances surround the death.

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.

Taser death may take weeks to unravel

May 9, 2009
Calgary Herald

It could be weeks before investigators know the official cause of death of the man who was involved in a Taser incident in Brooks this week, police say.

An autopsy was performed on Friday in Calgary on the body of Grant William Prentice, 40, to determine how he died.

Clifton Purvis, director of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, said the procedure has been completed, but the results of an important component, toxicology tests, could still be weeks away.

The team, the provincial body that investigates police use of force, is leading the investigation into what happened in Brooks on Wednesday night.

Prentice's family is not speaking publicly about the case, but Justice Minister Alison Redford weighed in on the subject of Tasers Friday, calling the incident a"really unfortunate situation."

Redford said she could not speak directly about the Brooks case, but said that it's better for police to have Tasers than not.

"When you speak to police officers about this, what they will say is that in many cases it is still a better alternative than they would have without (Tasers)," she said.

Residents on Lake Bevan Place in Brooks say Prentice was seen running down the street Wednesday night, knocking on doors and demanding to be let inside homes.

The RCMP and EMS were called and a Taser was deployed once, but it's not clear if it made contact with Prentice.

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

Five cops subdued man in Brooks: witnesses

May 9, 2009
By NADIA MOHARIB, SUN MEDIA

CALGARY -- As officials try to determine whether a Mountie's actions were justified, the family of a man who died during an arrest in Brooks this week are coming to grips with their loss.

Yesterday, Brooks Mayor Martin Shields - who knew Grant William Prentice, the 40-year-old who died after police tried to use a Taser to subdue him - said it's difficult for the entire community of 14,000, about 170 km southeast of Calgary.

Prentice's father, Bill, is a member of city council.

"The family is in a state of dealing with the tragedy," Shields said. "You feel for the people closest to him and you also feel for police attempting to do their job.

"They're part of the community, too."

The Alberta Serious Response Team, an independent body, is investigating the circumstances of Prentice's death, which happened Wednesday evening shortly after he was found knocking on the homes of strangers in a quiet cul-de-sac.

Witnesses said he was obviously in need of medical help.

A woman left Prentice, with blood on his face, at her front door while she went to summon aid and a neighbour tried to help. Witnesses said he appeared disoriented and became agitated when police arrived.

Witnesses said Prentice was aggressive with police and, despite repeated warnings, did not surrender and was eventually thrown to the ground and overpowered.

Ultimately, witnesses said, it took five officers to subdue Prentice, who was pronounced dead a short time later.

ASIRT executive director Clifton Purvis said part of the investigation will determine if bids to use the Taser worked and if officers' actions were justified.

Prentice had convictions dating back to the late '80s and early 1990s for drug trafficking, possession and resisting arrest but friends said he was not a violent man.

CBC: Your Best Stuff - Thumbs up: Top 5 most recommended comments

May 8, 2009
CBC

Taser use continues to be a divisive issue, provoking strong reaction in Canadians across the country.

Over 800 of you weighed in on the story of a Southern Alberta man who died after an RCMP officer used a stun gun to subdue him, though investigators say it's "unclear whether the device was successfully deployed."

Read more.

Here are your top five most recommended comments.

713 recommend: “From the article: "Police gave few details, but said they used a Taser on the man.... "The adult male then experienced medical distress and was immediately provided with emergency medical assistance."
Sorry RCMP - WE DON'T BELIEVE YOU!

We all now know that: "Provided with emergency medical assistance" is code for kneeling on someone's back until they stop breathing.

I sure hope there is dashcam video footage or civilian video footage, because, as we know, anything a RCMP spokesperson says when someone is killed with a Taser is nothing more than deceitful lies.” — effects

690 recommend:
“I used to work for Nortel. If one of the phones ever killed anyone the entire product line would have been recalled. Phones aren't suppose to kill anyone.

Neither are tasers. Why has this product line not been recalled? Why do the police insist on using this product which is defective x% of the time. Why does our government let the company continue business, and let the police continue use a defective product?” — reddwarf

550 recommend:
“""The adult male then experienced medical distress and was immediately provided with emergency medical assistance. The male was transported to Brooks Hospital where he later died," police said. "

TRANSLATION: The man began acting wonky, so they tased him a couple more times, then realized that he probably needed an amulance.” — Intelics

525 recommend:
“Somehow, I feel sure the RCMP will say that the man who was "observed to be injured", died of his injuries, not their taser. I also supsect that the RCMP "investigation" started with a look around to see if anyone recorded the incident, so they could confiscate the evidence. Of course, we could wonder why an injured man needed to be tasered. We could demand that the police stop killing people with this particular toy. We could fuss and debate on CBC about the wretched system that always exonerates or protects the police, no matter what they do. (they'll still do it) Such is the state of the public's lack of trust in the RCMP” — zedinbc

494 recommend:
“You can be sure that the RCMP will check very carefully to see whether there was any video of the incident before they decide what story they will put out.

Let's see, pick one:

1. He was holding a dangerous weapon, and WE FEARED FOR OUR LIVES.
2. He was in excited delirium.
3. We didn't actually TASER him. He was, um, hit by lightning yeah, - in two places centimetres apart, which left little red welts.” — Michael W

Alberta Tories refuse to ban use of Tasers

May 8, 2009
By Jason Fekete And Jason Van Rassel, Calgary Herald

CALGARY - The Stelmach government rejected calls to ban police use of Tasers and defended the weapon's safety record on Thursday after a Brooks man died after police used a Taser while trying to subdue him.

Alberta Solicitor General Fred Lindsay called Wednesday's death" a tragic incident" and vowed the government will conduct more regular testing of Tasers from municipal police forces under his department's jurisdiction. But the NDP said the government isn't going far enough, and described the latest fatality as further reason why police should be banned from using the weapons.

But Lindsay said the devices have proven extremely useful in subduing culprits and protecting the police and public, and the Liberals agreed Tasers are an important part of the police arsenal.

"It's a tool that's very effective in helping police make arrests and it protects both police and the public," Lindsay told reporters at the legislature. "Until such time as we have evidence otherwise, we're going to continue to have them."

The minister believes the public has confidence about the safety of Tasers and police services' ability to use them effectively.

There's "really no evidence" to suggest the weapons have caused any deaths in Canada, Lindsay argued.

But the safety record of Tasers is once again under the microscope following Wednesday's incident in Brooks, 185 kilometres southeast of Calgary. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, a provincial squad which investigates police conduct in events that result in serious injury or death, has been called in to determine if a Taser played a role in the death of 40-year-old Brooks resident Grant William Prentice.

The RCMP said officers were called to a residential area of Brooks around 7:30 p. m. Wednesday to investigate a complaint about a man who was injured and causing a disturbance.

ASIRT investigators said an officer fired a Taser once while trying to arrest Prentice, but it's not yet known if the probes that transmit an electrical current meant to incapacitate a suspect made contact with his skin.

Officers were able to handcuff Prentice and paramedics took him to hospital, where he died.

NDP Leader Brian Mason noted Prentice is at least the fifth Albertan to die after police deployed a Taser and demanded Alberta follow Newfound-land and Labrador's recent decision to ban police officers from using the devices.

"I don't think the weapon is either safe nor have the police shown that they are willing to abide by rules on its utilization,"Mason said.

He said deploying a Taser as an alternative to physically subduing someone, or for disobeying a police officer, are inappropriate uses of the device.

Liberal public security critic Kent Hehr, however, said his party still supports officers using the weapon as long as they're functioning properly and employed by police under appropriate circumstances.

The party will reconsider its stance if provincial government tests prove they're malfunctioning, he added.

"We think this is an effective policing tool, "Hehr said. "But we're going to have to keep an eye on this."

A two-year study conducted by the Canadian Police Research Centre recently examined several use of force methods used by officers found that batons caused a higher rate of injury than Tasers. The study scored Tasers high in safety for both officers and suspects, noting only one per cent of subjects subdued with the weapon required hospitalization, and 87 per cent suffered only minor injuries or weren't hurt at all.Batons, on the other hand, injured 39 per cent of subjects and resulted in the hospitalization of three per cent.

Tasers are often responsible for preventing death and serious injury because they can subdue a suspect quickly, one of thestudy'sco-authors, Calgary police Staff Sgt. Chris Butler. "The longer a confrontation is allowed to go on, the much more unpredictable the outcome will be," Butler said.

It's important for police to have a variety of less-lethal tools at their disposal, Butler said, noting suspects under the influence of drugs often don't respond to pain-inducing weapons like batons or pepper spray.

"We can't control those people with-out a high risk of injury," he said.

And unlike those other weapons, Tasers allow an officer to keep a safe distance from a suspect, added Butler.

Police Taser probe launched after Brooks man dies

May 8, 2009
By Stephane Massinon, Calgary Herald

CALGARY - In his final moments, Grant William Prentice ran down a quiet Brooks street, banged on doors and demanded he be let in. And when police tried to arrest him, the 40-year-old Brooks man was Tasered and later died in hospital.

It now falls to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, the provincial body that oversees investigations into use of force by police, to piece together Prentice's final hours, why the son of town councillor Bill Prentice, who sits on the Brooks Policing Committee, died and what role the controversial stun gun may have played in his sudden death.

At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Prentice was seen running down Lake Bevan Place in the Alberta city 185 kilometres east of Calgary. His behaviour startled the residents on the quiet residential street.

"Some guy came knocking on my door; he tried to convince my kids to let him in the house. They locked the doors and he went running down the street. He seemed like he was running from something,"said a resident who said she did not want to be identified.

She said she did not recognize Prentice and said he had scratches on his face. Prentice asked the woman's 10-year-old daughter repeatedly to let him in, but the girl locked the door and a neighbour called RCMP, she said.

The resident said she did not witness the Tasering, but saw Prentice being placed in the ambulance.A day later, she's still glad her daughter locked the door.

"It's unfortunate the way it ended, but the police protected my family. That's all I care about," she said.

Prentice's family said they did not wish to make any public statements. The grieving family gathered at Bill's house to console each other after the sudden death.

Prentice's cousin, Shirly Prentice, said he worked in construction, but she was not very close to him.

She was stunned to get the phone call telling her Prentice had died.

"He would give the shirt off his back to help you out," said Shirly.

What is known so far from the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is that two RCMP members arrived to the call and were later joined by two more officers, but Prentice, who was known to police, resisted arrest. He had previously been charged with causing a disturbance in 2001.

"A struggle ensued and one officer attempted to subdue the male with his conducted energy device. At this point, it's unclear whether the device was successfully deployed," said director Clifton Purvis.

"The Taser was deployed once, I don't know if he was struck," added Purvis.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Patrick Webb said the police force was limited in what it could say since ASIRT was leading the investigation.The national police force has said it willco-operate fully with the investigation.

"RCMP regrets the outcome of this tragic incident, and is currently notifying the family of the deceased. The RCMP offers its condolences and support to the family as they deal with their loss."

Mayor Martin Shields said the family, and his council colleague, are hurting. "When a citizen dies suddenly, it's of a great sadness,"said Shields. The town is "feeling shock and dismay," he said.

Shields said the Prentice family has lived in Brooks since the'60s; it is Bill Prentice's first term on council.

This is the third incident involving a Taser that ASIRT has been called in to investigate. On Nov. 2, 2008, Cranbrook resident Gordon Walker Bowe died in police custody in Calgary after a Taser was used, though it may not have made contact with him. Less than a week before that, Trevor Grimolfson, 38, died in Edmonton after he was Tasered twice following a disturbance at a pawnshop.

On Aug. 10, 2006, Jason Doan, 28, of Red Deer was jolted three times by a Taser as RCMP officers tried to subdue him. He died three weeks later in hospital after going into cardiac arrest following the Taser deployments.

Across Canada, more than 25 people have died after they were Tasered.

Webb said he did not know if it is the same model of Taser that was recently found to be malfunctioning in independent tests of the stun guns. AlbertaX-26 model Tasers were recently found to malfunction 12 per cent of the time and the province's solicitor general has ordered tests of all Alberta Tasers.

Shields said the continued use of the stun gun is not a decision for him and his council to make, but one for the RCMP.

An autopsy will be conducted on Prentice in Calgary today.

Alberta NDP wants province to ban stun guns after man dies

May 8, 2009
KATHERINE O'NEILL, Globe and Mail

EDMONTON — The Alberta NDP wants the province to ban stun guns after a 40-year-old man died earlier this week shortly after being tasered by an RCMP officer in southeastern Alberta.

"Enough is enough, it's time for a ban on tasers," NDP Leader Brian Mason said yesterday. He said at least five people have died in the province after being tasered by police in recent years, and that officers are using the controversial weapon inappropriately.

The most recent death, which occurred on Wednesday, is being probed by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), an independent provincial body that investigates police actions to determine whether criminal charges or other sanctions are warranted.

ASIRT executive director Clifton Purvis said it's still unclear whether the stun gun was even "successfully deployed."

The RCMP received a call around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday that Grant William Prentice was behaving erratically in a residential area in Brooks, Alta. An hour later, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital in the city 185 kilometres southeast of Calgary.

Mr. Purvis's organization is sorting out what happened during those critical 60 minutes, including interviewing civilian witnesses. According to a statement released by ASIRT, paramedics responded to the initial police call with two Mounties because Mr. Prentice appeared to be injured.

The 40-year-old man, who according to ASIRT was previously known to police, had been approaching residents asking for help and attempted to forcibly enter at least one house.

When the officers arrived at the scene, a struggle ensued with Mr. Prentice and one officer attempted to subdue him with a taser.

Officers were eventually able to handcuff him. However, Mr. Prentice was then rushed to the Brooks hospital after being assessed by the paramedics who were already on scene.

An autopsy is expected to be conducted today in Calgary.

Alberta Solicitor-General Fred Lindsay said a taser ban isn't necessary and accused Mr. Mason of spreading "innuendo and misinformation."

Police in the province have used the weapon at least 2,500 times in the past five years, according to Mr. Lindsay. He said there is no evidence, including medical reports, that any of those "incidents have resulted in the death of anyone."

Last month, Alberta mothballed dozens of tasers used by municipal police forces after tests showed the weapons weren't working properly. The government ordered the tests after concerns arose that older taser models were sending shocks that were too powerful.

Southern Alberta man dies after RCMP use Taser

May 7, 2009
CBC News

A Southern Alberta man is dead after an RCMP officer used a stun gun to subdue him, but investigators said it's "unclear whether the device was successfully deployed."

Grant William Prentice, 40, of the small city of Brooks, southeast of Calgary, died Wednesday night in the local hospital after a police officer stunned him with a Taser, a gun designed to incapacitate people with an electric shock.

The incident happened in a residential cul-de-sac called Lake Bevan Place.

RCMP gave few details, instead referring questions to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which looks into deaths and serious complaints in the province involving police officers.

In a news release issued Thursday afternoon, ASIRT said police were called to the cul-de-sac at about 7:30 p.m. MT Wednesday.

"The male was approaching residents and asking for help and attempted to forcibly enter one home," the release said. Neighbours phoned police, who arrived with an ambulance, because Prentice was said to be injured.

"Two officers arrived at the scene and tried to take the man into custody. A struggle ensued and one officer attempted to subdue the male with his conducted energy device. At this point, it's unclear whether the device was successfully deployed. Two more RCMP officers arrived and the man was eventually handcuffed," the release said.

An ambulance crew assessed Prentice and took him to the Brooks hospital, where he died at 8:30 p.m.

ASIRT said Prentice was "known" to police. According to court records, Prentice was charged with causing a disturbance in 2001 and fined.

'RCMP regrets the outcome'

Mayor Martin Shields said he knew Prentice, who was born and raised in Brooks. Shields told CBC News he spoke to the man's parents Thursday morning, and they are devastated.

A neighbour, who wouldn't give his name, told CBC News he saw a disoriented, unarmed man believed to be in his thirties stumbling across the cul-de-sac. The neighbour took his daughter inside and didn't see the arrest.

Besides ASIRT, RCMP also notified the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP of the incident.

"The RCMP regrets the outcome of this tragic incident.... RCMP offers its condolences and support to the family as they deal with their loss," the force said in a statement. "Although the RCMP is not subject to ASIRT's jurisdiction over police officers in Alberta, it has and will continue to be a strong supporter of the ASIRT model."

An autopsy will be performed Friday in Calgary.

During question period in the Alberta legislature Thursday, Alberta NDP Leader Brian Mason called on the government to ban Taser use because believes the devices are not safe and are being improperly used by police.

But Alberta's solicitor general, Fred Lindsay, defended the stun gun's effectiveness, saying he has not heard a public outcry against the devices.

"I don't get a lot of comments. You certainly hear the concerns, but then when the evidence comes out — and there's really no evidence to support the fact that these instruments have caused any deaths in Canada — then they're a tool that protects the public, and we hear numerous times about how they save lives," he said.

Man dies after Brooks (Alberta) RCMP use Taser

May 7, 2009
Gillian Slade, Medicine Hat News

A male in Brooks died after being Tasered by Brooks RCMP on Wednesday evening.

The Alberta Serious Incidents Response Team (ASIRT) has released the name of the individual. He is Grant William Prentice, 40, of Brooks. An autopsy to determine the cause of death will be conducted Friday morning, said Cliff Purvis, the executive director of the ASIRT.

Emergency Medical Services and Brooks RCMP responded to a complaint of a male, believed to be injured, who was causing a disturbance in a residential neighbourhood.

Prentice was in medical distress soon after police used a Taser to subdue him. Emergency Medical Assistance was provided immediately and he was taken to Brooks Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

An investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is taking place and Brooks RCMP are offering their full co-operation.

If anyone has any photos in relation to this story, please email them to khamel@medicinehatnews.com

Brooks (Alberta) man dies following tasering

May 7, 2009
ctvcalgary.ca

A man has died after being tasered by RCMP.

Police say on Wednesday evening they received a call about a disturbance in a residential area of Brooks.

RCMP and paramedics arrived at the scene.

RCMP say they found the man and used a Taser to take the person into custody.

The man then went into medical distress and paramedics tried to treat him.

The man was taken to hospital in Brooks where he later died.

The investigation into the death following the use of a Taser is being done by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT).

Alberta man dies after police use Taser

May 7, 2009
By NADIA MOHARIB AND KATIE SCHNEIDER, The Calgary Sun

Last night a man died after a confrontation with Brooks RCMP in which he was hit with a Taser at least once.

Sources said Mounties encountered an aggressive man during an investigation into a possible break-in on a residential street in the Lake Bevan area of the town, about 170 km southeast of Calgary, about suppertime.

The man was taken to Brooks hospital in cardiac arrest but efforts to resuscitate him were not successful.

RCMP spokesman Patrick Webb said the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is looking into the death.