Tassers don't kill

Man dies 30 hours after being Tasered by police

Updated Thu. Nov. 22 2007 6:03 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The province of Nova Scotia will review the use of Tasers after a man with psychiatric problems died at a Dartmouth correctional facility, 30 hours after being shocked by police.

Justice Minister Cecil Clarke ordered the review after the death of 45-year-old Howard Hyde, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Hyde's common-law wife, Karen Ellet, told CTV Atlantic that she was shocked by her husband's death.

"I'm trying to hold myself together right now," she said.

Ellet said Hyde was a "good man," but was not taking his medication when he was arrested early Wednesday.

She said Hyde had become violent and forced her to call police.

Halifax's regional deputy police chief warned the public not to jump to conclusions on what role the use of a Taser had in the death.

"It's premature to draw any conclusion that the Taser contributed to this man's death," chief Tony Burbridge told reporters in Halifax. He said the medical examiner needs time to first investigate the cause of death.

Burbridge said the man was Tasered shortly after being taken into custody.

"While he was being fingerprinted he attempted to jump over the counter in booking and flee the police department," said Burbridge. "The man struggled violently with our officers who tried to subdue him. They were unable to get him under control and a Taser was deployed."

The man continued to struggle with officers and was eventually brought under control but went into medical distress. Burbridge said he received first aid and was hospitalized for two or three hours, before being released back into police custody.

The man then appeared in court on Wednesday and was later remanded to the Central N.S. Correctional Facility in Dartmouth where he died Thursday morning.

Ellet said she thought Hyde should have been left in hospital longer than he was.

"I feel he should have stayed in the hospital, been medicated, get stable and get some counseling and some serious rehabilitation," said Ellet.

Hyde's sister told The Canadian Press that he had been shocked by a Taser gun in 2005, and had developed a "terrible fear" of them.

Joanna Hyde said he believed the incident had left him with heart problems.

"I think that the use of Tasers on my brother was unnecessary in any instance,'' she said from Shelburne, N.S. "He was unarmed and he was not a very big person."

Burbridge warned of drawing conclusions about the man's death since he died approximately 30 hours after being Tasered.

He said he supported the decision to use a Taser, made by officers during the "violent struggle."

Shorly after the death on Thursday, Clarke announced he had ordered the ministerial review into the use of Tasers.

"I have ordered Police Services officials in my department to immediately begin a review of policies and procedures regarding Taser use in Nova Scotia," said Clarke.

The review will examine Taser practices of authorized users in the province, including law enforcement, corrections and sheriffs, he said.

"At the same time, RCMP are being called in to investigate the circumstances of the death at the correctional facility and I understand Halifax Regional Police will also have the RCMP conduct an external investigation into the arrest," said Clarke.

"I also want to offer my condolences to the family at this difficult time."

Clarke said a moratorium on Taser use in Nova Scotia wasn't necessary.

Opposition parties agreed, but called for a broader review of the use of Tasers

RCMP investigation

On Wednesday, the chairman of a Mountie watchdog group looking into Taser use by police in Canada said he was concerned the electronic stun guns were being overused.

Paul Kennedy is the head of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP and is investigating the death of Robert Dziekanski.

Dziekanski died at Vancouver International Airport in October after arriving from Poland.

He was held in a secure area of the airport for about 10 hours and became agitated.

The Mounties were called in, confronted Dziekanski, and Tasered him less than 30 seconds after they arrived. Dziekanski died shortly afterwards.

The incident was recorded by a witness, who released the video to the public earlier this month.

In December, Kennedy is expected to report back on his investigation to Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day. Kennedy has said the four officers involved in the takedown of Robert Dziekanski could face criminal charges.

Kennedy is also looking into another incident involving the Mounties and the use of a Taser on a suspect. On Monday in Chilliwack, B.C., police used a Taser, pepper spray and batons in an attempt to subdue a 36-year-old man. He was listed in critical condition in hospital on Wednesday.

Day is expected to release a report by Friday about the Canadian Border Service Agency's role in Dziekanski's detention at Vancouver Airport.