Tracy Holmes (Peace Arch News) - The man at the centre of a “violent struggle” on Crescent Road this week has died.
David James Stitt was taken off life support Thursday, the day after an altercation with police outside his 13578 Crescent Rd. home.
Along with confirmation of Stitt’s death, the RCMP’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has released more details of the tussle preceding it.
Police were called to the 13600-block of Crescent Road just before midnight Tuesday, after a neighbour reported a disturbance.
One officer was dispatched to the scene, and upon arrival found Stitt in an agitated state. IHIT’s Cpl. Dale Carr said verbal intervention was unsuccessful and the situation escalated to violence.
“It was a combative situation where there was an actual physical altercation,” Carr said.
While police initially reported no weapons were used, Carr said investigation has determined the female officer used first pepper spray and then her baton on Stitt, striking the 46-year-old in the lower body. Stitt was advancing toward the officer with what is believed to have been a broomstick, Carr said.
Carr said “there is no evidence to suggest that the officer used any other form of weapon for intervention” than her pepper spray and baton.
Witnessing the struggle, a neighbour and a passing motorist came to the officer’s aid. Stitt was finally restrained with assistance from an additional officer who arrived on scene.
Handcuffed, Stitt collapsed while being escorted on foot to a police vehicle, Carr said.
“He just collapses, goes completely limp,” Carr said.
Officers began CPR “within seconds” and continued until ambulance crews arrived. It’s not clear if Stitt ever regained consciousness. He died at Peace Arch Hospital.
Carr said investigation is ongoing, and Stitt’s next-of-kin, a son, has been notified.
An autopsy is to take place today (Friday), however, Carr said it may be months before a full report on the cause of death is released.
The female officer, stationed in South Surrey, was treated after the altercation for cuts and scrapes. Carr said there is no indication of anything “untoward” in her response to the incident.
“She responded to an unknown call… and then was met by Mr. Stitt and then things evolved from there.”
Carr added two civilians – part of an independent observer program launched last year – have been assigned oversight of the investigation, to ensure it is unbiased and impartial.
2 responses so far ↓
1 RCMP Watch // Jun 23, 2008 at 06:27
Man dies after fighting with female Surrey RCMP officer
Jack Keating (Vancouver Province)
A man who was pepper-sprayed and struck with a baton during a fight with a Mountie has died.
Investigators with the RCMP Public Complaints Commission and police homicide detectives are looking into the death of David James Stitt, 46, who was hurt during an altercation on Tuesday.
Stitt, who was not known to police, died yesterday in hospital where he had been in critical condition.
Stitt lived in the 13500-block Crescent Road in south Surrey where the altercation took place.
Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team revealed last night that a female police officer struck Stitt “in the lower body” with a baton after using pepper spray on him when he “was non-compliant with police commands and, in fact, became non-co-operative and resistant.”
“He was eventually arrested and placed in handcuffs with the assistance of two civilians and an additional officer that arrived on scene,” said Carr.
The cause of death has not been determined, he added.
Carr said the role of the complaints commission investigators “is to oversee and ensure that the investigation is moving along in an unbiased and impartial manner and it’s done in real time.”
He said the female officer has not been suspended. [More...]
2 Deepthroat // Jun 23, 2008 at 15:43
Maybe the female cop should have used a taser on him. Seems that those batons and pepper spray are causing death.
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