Man With A Meat Cleaver

The same night police were forced to use deadly force in an apparent domestic dispute, circumstances allowed an officer in the city's northeast to successfully use a Taser to disarm a man threatening to kill his common-law wife.

Witnesses called police just before 7 p.m. after seeing a man inside a home on 38 St. N.E. threatening to kill a woman in a bedroom. Police arrived and quickly determined a woman's life was at risk, said Sgt. Mike Lomore. Through a bedroom window where the blinds were broken, they were able to see a suspect armed with a meat cleaver threatening a woman up against a wall. Officers broke a window on the door to get into the home.

Once inside the suspect "was using her as a shield and then turned towards us," Lomore said. "She was very distraught," he said, adding the woman managed to avoid injury by pressing the assailant's weapon-wielding arm against the wall. Five officers were on scene with police-issue firearms drawn as the man, who initially threatened to kill the woman, then urged police officers to end his life. "Officers had their weapons drawn when an opportunity presented itself," Lomore said.

The sergeant was able to target several inches exposed between the suspect's armpit and waistband with his Taser. "I deployed, and it was over instantly," he said.

"If there is ever a deadly force situation -- this was it. It's fortunate we had a Taser and it resolved the situation without deadly force."

The man, who appeared to be intoxicated by drugs and is said to be in his 50s, was incapacitated and taken to hospital for precautionary reasons. The suspect is facing charges of unlawful confinement, assault with a weapon and threats to kill.

Source: The Calgary Sun - 9/6/2008
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