Police fire Tasers 5 times in bid to subdue unruly man

A 41-year-old man is facing charges after police fired multiple Tasers at him during an incident at the Lighthouse shelter in downtown Saskatoon.

Officers were bringing a different person in to the Lighthouse’s Brief Detox Unit (BDU) around 1 a.m. Monday, when they were asked to help staff deal with a resident who was reportedly causing problems.

Police said the resident got aggressive while inside a small room with officers, threatening them with a dirty needle and making lunging motions towards them.

Three officers fired their Tasers a total of five times. Police said the stun guns had no apparent effect, possibly because of the suspect’s baggy clothes and the confined space.

With the Tasers failing, police opted to physically restrain the man so they could get handcuffs on him.

The man was taken to hospital for treatment and assessment of what a Saskatoon Police Service media release described as his “unknown drug consumption.” He was expected to appear before a justice of the peace Monday on charges including assault on a police officer and assault with a weapon.

Police policy requires a review any time an officer uses a Taser.