Man dies after being Tasered by RCMP in northern B.C.

TERRACE (NEWS 1130) — The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has been notified of a man who died in RCMP custody in northern B.C. earlier this week after being Tasered by officers.

The man was arrested by Nass Valley RCMP. Officers had been called to Monroe Street in Gitlaxt’aamiks, formerly New Aiyansh — a Nisga’a village about 100 kilometres north of Terrace — just before 8 p.m. Tuesday after a report that a man had been stabbed by another he knew.

The man who was stabbed was taken to the hospital before officers arrived, while the other man was being calmed by neighbours, according to RCMP.

“Prior to officers being able to take the man into custody, the man allegedly harmed himself with a weapon,” says a release from St. Sgt. Janelle Shoihet.

“In an effort to take the man into custody, an officer deployed a Conducted Energy Weapon and a struggle ensued.”

READ ALSO:

• Man dies after altercation with Whistler RCMP, provincial watchdog called in

• Okanagan man dies hours after being Tasered by police, IIO investigates

• Former Mountie involved in Taser death at Vancouver airport suing government

Officers took the man into custody, with help from several civilians. He was taken in a police vehicle to a health clinic, as RCMP says an ambulance wasn’t available.

“Despite lifesaving efforts, the man died at the clinic.”

The IIO is to determine whether police actions are linked to the man’s death.

@iiobc deploys to incident in New Aiyansh https://t.co/p0jktKWvVB

— IIOBC (@iiobc) October 15, 2020

As the matter is now under investigation by the IIO BC, police will not be releasing further information.

The Independent Investigations Office is a civilian-led police oversight agency responsible for conducting investigations into incidents of death or serious harm that may have been the result of the actions of a police officer, whether on or off duty.