Coquitlam man's alleged interference led to Taser use: RCMP
'Tasering someone when they're down in handcuffs is wrong,' wife says
RCMP in Coquitlam, B.C., say a man was stunned by a Taser gun because he was allegedlyinterrupting a police investigation, despite his accusation that the jolt came after he was subdued and handcuffed.
Colin Hawkins, a Coquitlam resident,said he was picking up his 17-year-old son from a rowdy neighbourhood party Friday night when an RCMP officer used a Taser on him after he had been wrestled to the ground.
In an interview with CBC News, Hawkins claimed RCMP used a Taser on him afterhe yelledat police who were arresting his son. He and his wife and daughter were returning from a hockey game at the time of the alleged incident.
RCMP spokeswoman Const. Brenda Gresiuk gave a description of the incident.
"During the course of the investigation they [police] were interrupted by an individual. This interruption escalated to the point that it was necessary to arrest that person," she said Tuesday.
"During the course of affecting that arrest, the stun mode of the conducted energy weapon was deployed and that person was taken in custody."
After being handcuffed and tossed to the ground, Hawkins said he was told that police would use a Taser if he didn't "stay."
"Within seconds of that, I was Tasered,'' he said
Hawkins said while he was being dragged down the street, he tried to explain that he was trying to pick up his son from the party.
"Tasering someone when they're down in handcuffs is wrong,'' said Hawkins's wife, Tira, who also spoke to CBC News.
Hawkins to file complaint
Gresiuk said police were called at around 10:30 p.m. Fridayto an incident relating to a noisy party.
Of the two modes to the Taser gun, only the stun mode — not the full deployment mode —had been activated, she said.
"The file has been reviewed and determination made that the Taser was deployed as per policy," Gresiuk said.
Hawkins said he was taken to the police station but released without being charged.
He said he plans to file a complaintabout the incident,which comes only one week after two Taser deaths in Canada.
A Polish man in his 40s died at Vancouver International Airportwhen RCMP jolted him with a Taser last week, anda 38-year-old Quebec man died last Wednesday after police Tasered him during an interrogation at a police station.