Widow of Taser victim sues RCMP

RICHARD CUTHBERTSON

He was hog-tied and repeatedly Tasered before going limp and turning blue.

Now the widow of a man who died in Digby police custody more than two years ago is suing the RCMP and three of its officers.

A statement of claim was filed Monday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court on behalf Helen Saulnier. Her husband, Paul Saulnier, died of "restraint asphyxia" while being restrained outside the Digby RCMP detachment.

The claim describes the last moments of Paul Saulnier's life. The man had been taken into custody on July 15, 2005 "due to concerns about his behaviour." He became agitated when asked to provide fingerprints, the claim says, and took off out the door.

There was an altercation with police. The claim says Saulnier was Tasered in the back and then held to the ground.

"Handcuffs were applied to Paul Saulnier's wrists and his legs were secured upward and forward, while Paul Saulnier's torso and head was held on the ground," the claim says. The man was held down in a "hog-tie" and was repeatedly Tasered while handcuffed, the claim says.

Helen Saulnier is accusing three RCMP officers of negligence in her husband's death.

Restraining the man in a "hog-tie" was dangerous and inappropriate, the claims says, and "materially contributed to death by restraint asphyxia."

None of the allegations has been proven in court.