Armed Male Subdued by Conducted Energy Weapon

Salmon Arm Detachment February 28, 2008 File #Salmon Arm 2008-1167


On February 27, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. a male attended to the Salmon Arm Detachment requesting to speak to a specific officer that was on duty. The office was closed at the time, as the requested officer was not immediately available the male approached another officer outside the detachment. After some initial conversation he threw his keys at the officer, stating, "You will need these as I am going to be in the news tomorrow." The officer then called for back up and two other officers exited from the detachment and confronted the male outside the front of the detachment building. The male repeatedly stated that he wanted to be shot by police and revealed a handgun stuck down the front of his pants. The handgun was clearly visible to the officers. The male refused to obey any commands to drop onto his stomach and continued to want police to shoot him, he kept his hands in the vicinity of the handgun.

As a result, the decision was made to immobilize the male with the use of a Conducted Energy Weapon, commonly known as a Taser. The Taser was utilized and the male was then quickly subdued and taken into custody. The male was under the influence of both drugs and alcohol at the time of his arrest. An unloaded .357 calibre handgun was seized. A subsequent search of the suspect's truck revealed numerous rounds of ammunition for handguns, a holster, a storage bag for handguns and a small quanity of marihuana. The male was properly licenced to be in possession of handguns and to transport them. The weapon recovered was properly registered.

At this time, 9:15 a.m., February 28, 2008, the forty-one year old male from White Rock, B.C. remains in custody facing numerous weapons related charges. He is expected to appear in Salmon Arm Provincial Court today where the Crown will be requested to seek a psychiatric assessment of the accused. No officers were injured in the incident and the accused was not harmed by the use of the Taser. This is a good example of where the Conducted Energy Weapon was instrumental in preventing serious injury to Police Officers involved, the suspect, and members of the Public.