
Man shot by Taser, dies later Edmonton Sun \|\| December 28, 2005 An unarmed man who was zapped by police with a Taser died after his heart stopped on the way to hospital. Witnesses say police Tasered the man at a south-side intersection on Christmas Eve after he began shouting that he was being attacked by bees. They say the well-dressed man in his mid-30s was yelling for help and wandering through traffic trying to flag down passing cars at the intersection at 75 Avenue and 113 Street just after 3 p.m. Saturday. "He was walking up and down the street yelling and screaming that the bees were trying to kill him," said a nearby resident who gave his name as Gerry. A senior officer at the scene confirmed the man was shocked with a Taser four times when he refused to co-operate with police. A man whose yard borders the intersection said two officers tried to calm the man down upon their arrival, ordering him to put his hands on a patrol car. "He finally did go over to the car, put his hands down. It looked like he was co-operating," said Chris Reeves, 49. "Then he started jumping around." He said the man, clad in dress slacks and a dress shirt, moved suddenly toward a police officer who had a Taser in his hand. As he approached, he was shot with the Taser and "folded and went down." Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com The two officers jumped the man, said Reeves. He said there was a brief struggle and the man suddenly went limp. Another officer bent over him and said "yes, he's breathing," said Reeves. He said police had to take the man into custody for his own safety because he was wandering around in traffic. A few moments later he watched as the man was loaded into an ambulance. Reeves's wife, Alana Wylie, said she feared the man had died when she saw medics pick him up. "It was just completely dead weight. I had a horrible feeling at that point." The homicide unit was called out - standard practice when a person in police custody dies - but police released few details and didn't mention yesterday the man had been Tasered. Some police officers speculated that the man was high on cocaine or may have been "off his meds." Insp. Dan Jones wouldn't confirm the man was Tasered. Jones said only that an altercation occurred and police called for an ambulance as soon as they realized the man "was having some troubles breathing." "Our heart goes out to the family at this time," Jones said. "It's a very sad situation, at this time of year especially." Tasers use compressed nitrogen to propel two small probes several metres. They attach to the target's skin and pump 50,000 volts of electricity into them, usually neutralizing them. Some models can also be used as prods. Tasers have been associated with a number of North American deaths over the years. A 28-year-old Edmonton man died last year after being Tasered by Edmonton police. Ronald Perry died in Royal Alexandra Hospital March 23, 2004. While at the hospital, he suffered a massive heart attack. An autopsy determined the attack was brought on by "excited delirium." The medical examiner's office determined there was no link between the death and the use of a Taser in the arrest. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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Man shot by Taser, dies later

Edmonton Sun || December 28, 2005

An unarmed man who was zapped by police with a Taser died after his heart stopped on the way to hospital.

Witnesses say police Tasered the man at a south-side intersection on Christmas Eve after he began shouting that he was being attacked by bees.

They say the well-dressed man in his mid-30s was yelling for help and wandering through traffic trying to flag down passing cars at the intersection at 75 Avenue and 113 Street just after 3 p.m. Saturday.

"He was walking up and down the street yelling and screaming that the bees were trying to kill him," said a nearby resident who gave his name as Gerry.

A senior officer at the scene confirmed the man was shocked with a Taser four times when he refused to co-operate with police.

A man whose yard borders the intersection said two officers tried to calm the man down upon their arrival, ordering him to put his hands on a patrol car.

"He finally did go over to the car, put his hands down. It looked like he was co-operating," said Chris Reeves, 49. "Then he started jumping around."

He said the man, clad in dress slacks and a dress shirt, moved suddenly toward a police officer who had a Taser in his hand. As he approached, he was shot with the Taser and "folded and went down."

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

The two officers jumped the man, said Reeves. He said there was a brief struggle and the man suddenly went limp.

Another officer bent over him and said "yes, he's breathing," said Reeves.

He said police had to take the man into custody for his own safety because he was wandering around in traffic. A few moments later he watched as the man was loaded into an ambulance.

Reeves's wife, Alana Wylie, said she feared the man had died when she saw medics pick him up. "It was just completely dead weight. I had a horrible feeling at that point."

The homicide unit was called out - standard practice when a person in police custody dies - but police released few details and didn't mention yesterday the man had been Tasered.

Some police officers speculated that the man was high on cocaine or may have been "off his meds."

Insp. Dan Jones wouldn't confirm the man was Tasered.

Jones said only that an altercation occurred and police called for an ambulance as soon as they realized the man "was having some troubles breathing."

"Our heart goes out to the family at this time," Jones said. "It's a very sad situation, at this time of year especially."

Tasers use compressed nitrogen to propel two small probes several metres. They attach to the target's skin and pump 50,000 volts of electricity into them, usually neutralizing them. Some models can also be used as prods.

Tasers have been associated with a number of North American deaths over the years.

A 28-year-old Edmonton man died last year after being Tasered by Edmonton police. Ronald Perry died in Royal Alexandra Hospital March 23, 2004. While at the hospital, he suffered a massive heart attack. An autopsy determined the attack was brought on by "excited delirium." The medical examiner's office determined there was no link between the death and the use of a Taser in the arrest.

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