A Transit Police officer has been suspended for two days without pay for using a Taser on a fare evader five years ago.
Const. Daniel Dickhout was disciplined for unjustifiable use of a conducted energy weapon by the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner.
On Sept. 13, 2007 at the Scott Road Skytrain station, Dickhout was attempting to issue a violation ticket to Christopher Lypchuk for fare evasion.
Before the ticket could be issued, Lypchuk attempted to leave the scene but Dickhout and a fellow officer gave chase and stopped him in a stairwell.
Dickhout discharged the Taser after Lypchuk was only reluctantly responding to his commands, according to a notice released by adjudicator Ian Pitfield.
Dickhout later testified that he construed the manner in which Lypchuk responded as an attempt to assault his fellow officer.
Dickhout, 60, has not carried a Taser since the incident because of distress and concern about Lypchuk’s injuries and the prospect of injuring others, according to Pitfield’s notice.
Dickhout has not been the subject of any previous disciplinary action.
The took place only one month prior to the death of Robert Dziekanski, who died shortly after being tasered by RCMP officers in Vancouver airport.
– by Dan Pearce
