0
Quote
A MAN who died after police stunned him with a Taser in central Sydney may have been from South America.
Police have conceded he may not have been involved in any crime, even though he was identified as a suspect following a report of a robbery at a convenience store in King St early yesterday morning.
Officers confronted him in Pitt St about 5.30am (AEDT) and tried to arrest him.
Capsicum spray and a Taser were used when he resisted but he soon stopped breathing and could not be revived.
Investigators believe he may be from South America, a NSW Police media release issued tonight said.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton said police were merely responding to reports of a robbery and the details of what happened remain unclear.
"It's unclear as to the involvement of this man or the extent of that actual incident. Whether it is a robbery or not is unclear at this time," Mr Walton said.
"The report of a robbery is ongoing and I cannot ... even confirm that it was an actual robbery."
Mr Walton also said he could not say whether the man was armed or whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Nor could he give any details about the Taser incident.
"We don't know what's caused this man's death. That will be a matter for the investigation and coroner," he said.
The State Crime Command Homicide Squad has launched a critical incident investigation.
NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Cameron Murphy said there should be an immediate moratorium on the use of Tasers by police.
"This incident raises serious concerns about the way in which they're used," he said.
"What's a particular concern in this case is ... they used both capsicum spray and a Taser on this individual.
"There are serious questions whether that may have led to the person's death."
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell declined to comment on the incident until he had been fully briefed, but said the government supported the use of Tasers.
"We've always supported the use of Tasers as a non-lethal alternative," he said.
"Tasers versus guns is a clear choice."
Police are yet to inform the man's family of his death.
In a bid for public information, police have described the dead man as being in his mid-20s to mid-30s, of medium build, 178cm tall, with brown eyes and brown shoulder-length curly hair.
He was wearing Diesel Industrie blue denim jeans and a white Gap brand short sleeve shirt.
Tasers were introduced into the NSW police force in 2009.
In October 2010, a man died after being tasered by police during a domestic dispute in western Sydney and there have been deaths from the use of Tasers in other states.
NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said the use of Tasers in NSW had multiplied from 126 in 2008 to almost 1200 in 2010
Police have conceded he may not have been involved in any crime, even though he was identified as a suspect following a report of a robbery at a convenience store in King St early yesterday morning.
Officers confronted him in Pitt St about 5.30am (AEDT) and tried to arrest him.
Capsicum spray and a Taser were used when he resisted but he soon stopped breathing and could not be revived.
Investigators believe he may be from South America, a NSW Police media release issued tonight said.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton said police were merely responding to reports of a robbery and the details of what happened remain unclear.
"It's unclear as to the involvement of this man or the extent of that actual incident. Whether it is a robbery or not is unclear at this time," Mr Walton said.
"The report of a robbery is ongoing and I cannot ... even confirm that it was an actual robbery."
Mr Walton also said he could not say whether the man was armed or whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Nor could he give any details about the Taser incident.
"We don't know what's caused this man's death. That will be a matter for the investigation and coroner," he said.
The State Crime Command Homicide Squad has launched a critical incident investigation.
NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Cameron Murphy said there should be an immediate moratorium on the use of Tasers by police.
"This incident raises serious concerns about the way in which they're used," he said.
"What's a particular concern in this case is ... they used both capsicum spray and a Taser on this individual.
"There are serious questions whether that may have led to the person's death."
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell declined to comment on the incident until he had been fully briefed, but said the government supported the use of Tasers.
"We've always supported the use of Tasers as a non-lethal alternative," he said.
"Tasers versus guns is a clear choice."
Police are yet to inform the man's family of his death.
In a bid for public information, police have described the dead man as being in his mid-20s to mid-30s, of medium build, 178cm tall, with brown eyes and brown shoulder-length curly hair.
He was wearing Diesel Industrie blue denim jeans and a white Gap brand short sleeve shirt.
Tasers were introduced into the NSW police force in 2009.
In October 2010, a man died after being tasered by police during a domestic dispute in western Sydney and there have been deaths from the use of Tasers in other states.
NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said the use of Tasers in NSW had multiplied from 126 in 2008 to almost 1200 in 2010
News Source: Courier News
