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Vancouver Police Taser Man, Probed By Independent Investigations Office

Man Dies After Vancouver Police Taser Use
FILE-In this Aug. 16, 2007, file photo, Police Chief John Martin demonstrates a Taser in Brattleboro, Vt. Mental health advocates and civil libertarians are calling for a moratorium on police use of stun guns in Vermont following the death of man last week. They want it to last until the effects of the weapons can be investigated further and until police officers get more training in their use and in how to deal with people experiencing mental health crises.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)
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FILE-In this Aug. 16, 2007, file photo, Police Chief John Martin demonstrates a Taser in Brattleboro, Vt. Mental health advocates and civil libertarians are calling for a moratorium on police use of stun guns in Vermont following the death of man last week. They want it to last until the effects of the weapons can be investigated further and until police officers get more training in their use and in how to deal with people experiencing mental health crises.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

UPDATE: The BC Coroners Service has identified the deceased man as Alton Bernard Cuyugan, 33, of Vancouver.

B.C.'s independent agency is investigating a case where a man was hit by a Vancouver police Taser, and then died in hospital of self-inflicted injuries.

Police answered a call from Emergency Health Services on Tuesday morning about a man threatening to harm himself with a knife. During the exchange with officers, the man "continued to be agitated," said a news release from the Independent Investigations Office (IIO).

In response, police deployed a Taser. The man suffered self-inflicted injuries, was taken into custody and transported to hospital where he died, said the agency.

The IIO is responsible for investigating deaths and serious injury involving police forces in B.C. Their mission is to conduct timely, unbiased and transparent investigations.

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