Pubdate: Wed, 06 Sep 2006
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Susan Lazaruk

COCAINE, NOT TASER, KILLED ERRATIC MAN

Pathologist Says Psychosis Led To Heart Attack

A Vancouver man who died in police custody after being Tasered was 
killed by a cocaine-induced heart attack and not by the high-voltage 
jolt, a coroner's inquest heard yesterday.

Robert Bagnell, 44, suffered a heart attack likely caused by cocaine 
intoxication and cocaine-induced psychosis during a police takedown 
in a Granville Street hotel washroom on June 23, 2004, pathologist 
Dr. Laurel Gray told coroner Stephen Fonseca and a five-member jury.

"It would be unlikely that Taser use would have contributed to his 
death," said Gray.

She noted Bagnell, who later tested for a high level of cocaine and a 
medium-to-high level of methamphetamines, exhibited all the symptoms 
of cocaine psychosis, or "excited delirium," according to Vancouver police.

"He was suffering from acute cocaine intoxication and cocaine 
psychosis. He was hot, had superhuman strength" and his behaviour was 
erratic, Gray said.

"Not infrequently, these individuals do die suddenly of cardiac 
arrest," she said.

Bagnell was making guttural noises, swearing and smashing items, 
before police moved in. They stayed outside the washroom, waiting for 
him to calm down. Emergency response team officers were sent inside 
after the hotel's fire alarm sounded, and Bagnell was Tasered.

Bagnell continued to struggle violently for some time after being hit 
with the 50,000 volts of electricity.

The inquest also heard that Bagnell's heart was enlarged to 
one-and-a-half times normal size, which is an indication of a chronic 
user of cocaine and can increase the risk of an irregular heartbeat.

Provincial toxicologist Stuart Huckin said Bagnell's blood sample 
tested with 4.2 milligrams of cocaine per litre of blood.

The "minimum lethal level" is one mg per litre if cocaine is injected 
or smoked as crack cocaine, but 10 times that if snorted, said Huckin.

Bagnell's mother, Riki Bagnell, who travelled from Prince Edward 
Island, and his sister, Patti Gillman, who lives in Ontario, are 
attending the inquest, which is scheduled for 10 days.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman