UPDATE: A spokesperson for the B.C. Independent Investigations Office told Global News late Wednesday afternoon that it is unclear if Clayton Donnelly was even hit by the conducted energy weapon that Sicamous RCMP said a member deployed during the arrest.
The IIO continues to investigate and interview all people involved in the incident.
ORIGINAL STORY:
An Okanagan family is desperate for answers after their son died following a police incident in which the man was allegedly subdued by a conducted energy weapon after a traffic stop early Monday.
The family of the 38-year-old man, which identified him as Clayton Donnelly, says he passed away on Tuesday afternoon, adding medical officials told them the cause of death was cardiac arrest.
The family also says CPR was performed on him for 90 minutes following his arrest.
Donnelly had no previous heart issues, according to the family, which does not want to be identified at this time.
The B.C. Independent Investigations Office (IIO) confirmed the man’s death on Wednesday.
Later in the day, the IIO stated it was unsure of what role, if any, any taser played in Donnelly’s death.
“He was someone’s son, brother and uncle,” the family told Global News. “We do want justice for him.”
“He passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon surrounded by family.”
Donnelly’s family has requested privacy and is asking the public to give them space to grieve.
The man’s family told Global News they were called to attend a B.C. Interior hospital on Monday morning, and were told that their son was involved in a car accident.
The family says they found out about the alleged incident that led to him being transported to hospital through media reports.
On Tuesday morning, Sicamous RCMP sent out a press release about an erratic driver who was subdued with a conducted energy weapon.
While being handcuffed, police said the man went into medical distress.
The family said they were unaware of the police incident or the use of a conducted energy weapon on their son until reading about it on Global News.
His father told Global News he believes the use of a Taser was unnecessary, but believes the investigation into the matter will help give them the answers they are desperate for.
“These weapons must not be used!” the father emphasized in his short statement.
RCMP said a driver was reported to be driving erratically on Highway 97 in Lake Country at 1:30 a.m., Monday. Attempts to pull the van over in Armstrong were unsuccessful.
At around 3:30 a.m., in Malakwa along Highway 1 at Sederberg Road, about 120 kilometres from the initial traffic complaint, the van was pulled over by RCMP.
Police said the driver resisted arrest and was subdued by a conducted energy weapon.
The family tells Global News their son was small in stature, weighing in at about 130 pounds.
They hope to speak out about their son’s death after being interviewed by the IIO.