Location of Tasering Still Not Confirmed

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 03:58 AM

Prince George, B.C. - Efforts to ascertain where the tasering of an 11-year-old boy by Prince George RCMP occurred have hit a wall...

Prince George RCMP did not indicate the location in their initial news release back on Friday afternoon - not even a general vicinity, as is usually provided - and will no longer comment on the case now that the officer's use of the conducted energy device is under outside investigation by the West Vancouver Police Department. Speculation arose over the weekend that it was a group home in the Tabor Lake area and by yesterday, at least two news outlets were running photos of the purported site, but no official confirmation can be obtained.

During yesterday's news conference, West Van media liaison, Corporal Fred Harding, said it was his understanding that it was not termed a 'group home', but that it was a government building. He said he did not know the location. Harding said while the West Van investigators had the full cooperation of the local RCMP, he and Sergeant Paul Skelton - the media officers - were not involved and it was not appropriate for them to know that in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation.

Asked repeatedly if the public had a right to now where the incident occurred, Harding said, "I believe that as information becomes available that can be released, we will absolutely release that information at the appropriate time."

Prince George Superintendent, Brenda Butterworth-Carr, stood quietly at the back of yesterday's news conference, after first getting the okay from WVPD to observe. She said, "(I'm) pretty restricted from saying anything, especially as it pertains to the investigation."

"It's very, very strict protocol and it needs to be that way," said Butterworth-Carr. "We need to ensure that there's an independent investigation that occurs."

Butterworth-Carr would not comment on the location. "I have to respect the process and I have to respect the fact that there's other agencies involved."

She would say all further information - even whether there's mis-information being publicized - will have to come from West Van Police.

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Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 03:58 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: jonnypg on April 12 2011 4:04 AM

And people still defend this kind of crap!

Posted by: gus on April 12 2011 4:15 AM

There are others involved in this that has nothing to do with the tasering who have talked.

"I have to respect the process and I have to respect the fact that there's other agencies involved."

Butterworth-Carr is not very careful with here words, is she? Things get out in such circumstances. In a society like we live in, it is very difficult to keep a lid on things.

Posted by: gus on April 12 2011 4:19 AM

If what is suggested by other media and other agency representatives is true, I wonder if WorkSafeBC is on the case yet as well.

Posted by: He spoke on April 12 2011 7:48 AM

From the information provided by this outlet.
1) The kid did stab a person,
2) When the RCMP came around he still had the knife.

It is my opinion, the RCMP did do the right thing. What is the ramafication of a RCMP officer manhandling a 11 year old. The RCMP first has the right to protect himself, than the responsibility of protecting the public, followed by protecting the criminal. Thus the officer made the right decision.

Maybe Maclean's will recognize, we are fighting crime in our city.

Posted by: verballabel on April 12 2011 8:18 AM

Look at the video on the CBC and you will know where it happened.

Posted by: gitterdun on April 12 2011 8:55 AM

Don't the cops carry pepper spray anymore? If it works on a 300lb bear wouldn't it work on an 11 yr old kid?

In one of the initial reports, I can't remember which, it said that the kid had run into another group home from where the stabbing had occured. Then when the cops came they told him to come out, which he did with the knife still in his hand. IMO it sounds like he was complying. It's not like they were downtown where there were lots of people around.

If this cop had 12 yrs experience instead of 2 yrs would he have tried to diffuse the situation or would he have used a different method to take the kid in?

Posted by: gus on April 12 2011 10:23 AM

"From the information provided by this outlet.
1) The kid did stab a person,"

Can you point to that information on this site? Did someone observe him doing that?

The Citizen editorial sid he did it. But we all know the Citizen.

These are the words from this site:
"Upon attendance police confirmed a 37 year old male had been allegedly stabbed by an 11 year old male and the victim was enroute to hospital for medical care."

I think, he spoke, you need to send Ben and Elaine an apology.

Posted by: He spoke on April 12 2011 12:12 PM

There is one problem with your position "Gus".

What your implying is he either stabbed himself, or the other person stabbed him, the kid runs out with the knife, packs it around for a couple of hours until the RCMP show up.

Regardless of some other indiscretion of the RCMP in the past, I still think the right choice is taser, to get it in control before it gets out of hand.

I have never been peppersprayed, but I would assume you have a second or two before it becomes painful, meaning he could accidentally or intentionally stab him self. The taser is instant imobilization.

Posted by: He spoke on April 12 2011 12:17 PM

Pepper spray or taser, the media is going to be all over it anyway. It is still a better story than the RCMP officer having to manhandle the knife away.

Posted by: He spoke on April 12 2011 12:24 PM

I am not a news reporter or an official commentator, it is my interpretation from the information, the kid did stab him.

allegedly to me, means that it is 90% probability he did stab him.

You have also failed to, IT IS OF MY OPINION. I am allowed to my opinion, regardless of whether it is right or wrong. I honestly do not think that my opinion stated on this blog site, is going to sway the investigation in either direction.If it does, than I offer my apology.

Posted by: bozo the clown on April 12 2011 12:32 PM

crazy world equals the same responce.its the sign of the times if kids or us want to screw up well .....

Posted by: cougs78 on April 12 2011 7:45 PM

The kid was somewhere he should not have been and got caught. Instead of running away he decided to stab the guy who caught him. I am not sure why the outrage at the cops, they probably saved this kids life. Now and for the future!

Posted by: jonnypg on April 13 2011 5:58 AM

The fact that this still goes on shows what a farce our Canadian 'Justice' system is. Police investigating police is just like allowing criminals to investigate criminals. I am not a cop basher, and I'm not saying this because I think all cops are bad, having an independent investigation service will give them some badly needed credibility that has been lost in recent years. When a cop crosses the line like the F#$%$##K'S that murdered that guy at the airport, they need to be brought to justice, not allowed to hide behind badges.

It's way past time to stop letting them self investigate! Everytime it's the same result 'the police find no wrong doing by the police'

Posted by: jonnypg on April 13 2011 6:07 AM

You would think an RCMP officer would be able to handle an 11 year old boy? I guess the boy was lucky he was never kicked in the face during his arrest.

Posted by: Harbinger on April 13 2011 6:56 PM

Eleven is the new sixteen?