No Charges In Shoplifter's Death

A North Okanagan woman is calling for a coroner's inquest into her son's death after learning that criminal charges will not be pursued.

Evan Larsen, 22, of Vernon died in February 2004 after being caught shoplifting at a Kelowna electronics store.

Staff at Andre's Electronics put a choke hold on Larsen and tied him up with speaker wire to prevent him from fleeing the scene.

Larsen died at the scene. He had traces of morphine in his system.

Police have informed Larsen's mother, Dorothy, the Crown has decided not to proceed with charges despite a recommendation of manslaughter from the RCMP.

Dorothy Larsen is calling for a coroner's inquest into her son's death.

Larsen says staff at all retail outlets in BC should be trained in how to restrain shoplifters. She says her son might still be alive today if that was the case at Andre's Electronics.

"Store owners need to have policies so that people are not dying on their premises."