Agencies eye Taser investigation

Even with the on-the-ground portion of the police investigation concluded, other agencies are lining up to examine different aspects of the Tasering of an 11 yr. old boy at a Prince George group home.

Even with the on-the-ground portion of the police investigation concluded, other agencies are lining up to examine different aspects of the Tasering of an 11 yr. old boy at a Prince George group home.

The troubled youth was zapped by an RCMP officer after the child allegedly stabbed one of his caregivers at a facility in the Giscome Road area.

Mounties, who said the stabbing victim received non-life threatening injuries have revealed little else about the events preceding the Tasering, but have called in the West Vancouver Police Department to investigate. The officer in question had about 18 months’ experience and has since been placed on administrative duties.

Worksafe BC will become involved, because the stabbing victim is considered to be an injured worker.

Other groups closely watching the investigation include B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth; the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP and the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, which raised concerns about police investigating police.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Children and Family Development refuses to identify, or provide many details about the facility where the boy, a ward of the state, was staying.

Spokesman Darren Harbord said the child was supervised around the clock in a ‘staffed residential resource’ with three dedicated workers and no other children.

Harbord couldn’t immediately say how many other kids in the region receive the same high level of care as the 11 yr. old.

It’s unclear how long the police investigation will take to conclude.

Two West Vancouver police detectives, left Prince George after less than 72 hours in the city and returned home to write up their findings. Those will be forwarded to their commander, who will make recommendations to the RCMP.

 

Burns Lake Lakes District News