Vernon Suspect Tasered

Vernon RCMP were forced to use a police taser to subdue a man who was begging officers to shoot him.

"At 6:45 am yesterday morning police responded to a call of a male brandishing bricks on 30th Ave. The suspect was standing in the middle of the Street with a brick in one hand and another wrapped up weapon. He appeared to be heavily under the influence of illegal drugs" says Corporal Henry Proce.

He says the suspect began twirling the sweatshirt - wrapped around a brick - above his head and screamed at police that they shoot him in the head. He was ordered to drop the bricks but he refused to do so.

Proce says that's when police decided to taser the suspect.

"The suspect was warned that if he did not comply he would be ‘tasered’ and when he continued to be unco-operative, police deployed the taser. The suspect immediately dropped the brick, fell to his knees and was taken into custody."

Proce says the incident proves that tasers are effective.

"The suspect, in a drugged state, would likely not have responded to verbal commands, pepper spray or hand techniques. In fact, this particular suspect was taunting police to shoot him. The use of the taser allows police to stay out of harm’s way while dealing with a violent suspect in a non-lethal fashion."

The 36 year old suspect is from Kamloops.