Manitoba’s police watchdog is investigating after a man died shortly after an encounter with the Winnipeg Police Service that involved the use of a Taser. The incident began around 4:23 a.m. on Sunday when Winnipeg police received several 911 calls about a man in the 600 block of McMeans Avenue. According to the reports, the man was walking up and down the street in an “erratic” manner and was taking off his clothes. Police said one of the calls came from the man himself, as well as a woman who said they were experiencing “adverse effects of drug consumption.” Just after 4:30 a.m., police received a 911 call from a nearby resident, who said a man had broken into his home and attacked him before leaving the premises. Officers in the area found the man who was naked and refusing to comply with the officers’ requests. The man then ran from the police who chased after him. To end the chase, police used a Taser and took the man into custody. Police said the man then started showing signs of an “agitated chaotic event,” prompting officers to call an ambulance. The man became unresponsive and officers conducted CPR before emergency personnel arrived. The 42-year-old man was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead. A police officer sustained a minor leg injury during the incident. Manitoba’s Independent Investigation unit has taken over the investigation.
