Another Canadian Man Dies After Being Tasered

A 45-year-old man in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, died today, about 30 hours after being Tasered by police during his arrest on assault charges. Police see no connection between the Tasering and the man's death.

According to Tony Burbridge, Halifax Regional Police deputy chief, the unnamed individual was arrested for an assault charge in Dartmouth during the early morning hours of Wednesday. The man became combative at the police station. As CTV reports, Burbridge said:

"While he was being fingerprinted, he attempted to jump over the counter in booking and flee the police department...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."

Although the prisoner continued to struggle, he was eventually controlled but went into "medical distress." Following the prisoner's "medical distress," he was transported to a hospital, medically cleared and returned to police custody. He was in court on Wednesday and then was transferred to the Central N.S. Correctional Facility in Dartmouth, where he died. As reported by CTV, Burbridge added:

"He left our facility and we took him out to the correctional centre -- that's the last dealings we had with the gentleman -- so I have no knowledge of what transpired."

Burbridge added:

"It's premature to draw any conclusion that the Taser contributed to this man's death."

Burbridge said conclusions should wait until after the medical examiner investigates the death. In related news, a Chilliwack man remains near death in a British Columbia hospital, after being beaten and Tasered during his arrest on Monday. Reports indicate the victim's vital organs are failing and that he's on dialysis.