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Tue Jul 22, 11:06 PM

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By Tamara King, The Canadian Press

WINNIPEG - Winnipeg has joined a growing list of Canadian communities where a confrontation involving a police Taser has ended in death.

On Tuesday, a young adult male died in hospital after police used a Taser to subdue him. They had gotten a call for help from a residence at about 3:50 p.m.

"Upon attending, officers encountered a male at the rear of a residence," said Const. Jacqueline Chaput. "This resulted in an officer deploying his electronic control device. The male who was struck ... was conveyed to hospital in critical condition and he succumbed to his injuries in hospital."

Officers appeared to be focusing their investigation on the lane behind Peter Doyle's house, which backs onto the National Microbiology Laboratory.

Doyle, 40, wondered whether the man had been trying to steal his van.

"That's the only thing I could think of as to why they'd be behind my garage," said Doyle. "(The van) doesn't even work."

A source told The Canadian Press police were on foot chasing a male and he brandished a knife when officers tried to arrest him.

Chaput acknowledged the initial confrontation was serious enough that more than five police cars were dispatched.

She did not know how many times or where on his body the man was Tasered. She said paramedics were called to the scene by police, who requested a "rush" be put on the ambulance.

Larry Crisostomo, 31, who lives near the area, said he saw about eight officers and a couple of paramedics working on a man who was on the ground.

"They were all huddled around ... trying to revive him, and they had to give him the paddles, I don't know what they're called," said Crisostomo.

"I've never been this close to anything. This is my first time seeing this."

Chaput confirmed it is the first time in Winnipeg that a person has died after being Tasered.

"However, the cause of death is yet to be determined by the investigation and by the autopsy. So at this point it's too early to tell if the cause of death had anything at all to do with the electronic control device."

She said Winnipeg police follow strict guidelines on using Tasers.

"It was our executive members' decision to continue with the use of electronic control devices despite some of the controversy that we've seen all over the country," she said.

Crisostomo wondered if that policy should be revisited.

"After what I see on the news all the time, they should just use their guns and shoot (suspects) in the leg," he said. "They seem to survive better that way."

Amnesty International Canada renewed a call for a temporary Taser moratorium last month after a man in Norfolk, Ont., died in custody after being shocked by police.

The human rights group said an independent review of possible risks is needed.

Calls for bans on the devices have also followed several high-profile deaths.

A public inquiry is scheduled for this fall into the death of a Polish immigrant who died shortly after being Tasered by RCMP officers at Vancouver's airport last year.

Robert Dziekanski had been waiting at the airport for several hours for his mother, and RCMP were called after he became agitated. A video taken by a bystander set off a public outcry and resulted in several inquiries into Taser use by police.

The national police force pledged to restrict Taser use and give officers clearer direction on how and when to use the weapons following a scathing report by RCMP Public Complaints Commissioner Paul Kennedy.

Earlier this month, Nova Scotia's government issued new restrictions aimed at ensuring stun guns are used appropriately. An earlier study done for the province found officers had become increasingly reliant on the devices.