Pubdate: Sat, 03 Dec 2005
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Darah Hansen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

TASER-LINKED DEATH ACCIDENTAL

Inquest Findings: Personal Trainer's Death In Custody Blamed On 
Cocaine, Not Vancouver Police

The death of a 25-year-old man who was forcibly subdued and Tasered 
by Vancouver police while high on crack cocaine has been ruled 
accidental by the B.C. Coroner's Service following an inquest.

Roman Andreichikov's heart stopped beating during a struggle with 
police at his Vancouver apartment May 1, 2004.

His family believe police were responsible for the death, suggesting 
at the inquest through their lawyer Phil Rankin that the officers who 
responded to the 911 call involving Andreichikov should have used 
less dangerous methods of restraint than the Taser stun gun.

"Our position was that they [the police] should have tried 
communicating with him first and not resorted to the Taser within the 
first two minutes of contact," Rankin said in an interview.

Earlier in the day, after a week of hearing evidence, a five-person 
jury ruled the death was caused by cocaine, not police.

The verdict came as a disappointment to the Andreichikov family, who 
live in Richmond.

"The mother is just distraught," Rankin said, referring to Diana Andreichikov.

"She just doesn't believe that [the responding police officers] had 
any business to fight with her son until he offered actual resistance 
- -- actually fought with them."

Rankin said Diana Andreichikov told him Thursday that she wished her 
son had killed himself.

"'At least he would have done it to himself, it would have been his 
choice. This way they killed him in a fight,'" Rankin said Diana 
Andreichikov told him.

Police said that although Andreichikov -- who was a personal trainer 
- -- posed no immediate threat to them, they used the Taser because 
they were afraid he was going to lunge at the officers.

The officers had been called to the apartment by a friend of 
Andreichikov who said Andreichikov, who had been on a five-day crack 
cocaine binge, was suicidal and had twice tried to throw himself off 
his fourth-floor balcony.

One officer testified during the inquest that upon entering 
Andreichikov's apartment they found Andreichikov in an irrational 
state, moaning and growling loudly and not making sense.

"He looked angry to me," Const. Darren Hall testified. "He looked 
ready to explode . . . he was breathing incredibly fast. I could see 
white foam coming out of his mouth."

Hall said he and the other officers feared Andreichikov was suffering 
from "excited delirium -- a state of panic caused by heavy drug use 
- -- and he needed to be handcuffed and taken to hospital as soon as possible.

At first, officers said, Andreichikov complied with their requests 
that he lie down, but when he suddenly turned over, Hall said, he 
stunned him with his Taser so he could be safely restrained.

Andreichikov fought back, and was Tasered a second time, while three 
officers held him down and handcuffed him. A few moments later, the 
officers noticed he wasn't breathing.

The jury recommended that police, in future, consider using a strap 
restraint device to control people in an extreme agitated state, 
rather than resorting to physical force. The jury also suggested that 
paramedics with the advanced medical team be dispatched to any 
situation involving extreme drug-induced psychosis, rather than 
basic-level paramedics.

In the event of death, it said, blood samples be collected as soon as 
possible in order to provide accurate cocaine-level readings.

The jury has also recommended that a joint committee be established 
with the police and medical community and other appropriate agencies 
to review current practices and procedures when dealing with people 
suffering cocaine-induced psychosis.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth