Investigation ... A man has died following the use of a Taser by police this morning in Pitt St Sydney. Picture: Steve Harris
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A MAN who may not have been involved in any crime, and may not have posed a danger, has died after police stunned him a with a Taser in central Sydney.
Officers had identified the man as a suspect after a report of a robbery at a convenience store in King St about 5.30am (AEDT) today.
They confronted him in Pitt St and tried to arrest him.
When he resisted, they used capsicum spray and a Taser.
He stopped breathing and died despite the efforts of police and paramedics.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton said police were merely responding to reports of a robbery and the details of what happened remains unclear.
"It's unclear as to the involvement of this man or the extent of that actual incident. Whether it is a robbery or not is unclear at this time," Mr Walton said today.
"The report of a robbery is ongoing and I cannot ... even confirm that it was an actual robbery.
"It was a case of it being reported as a robbery at this time."
Mr Walton also said he could not say whether the man was armed or whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Nor could he give any details about the Taser incident.
"We don't know what's caused this man's death. That will be a matter for the investigation and coroner," he said.
The State Crime Command Homicide Squad has launched a critical incident investigation.
NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Cameron Murphy said there should be an immediate moratorium on the use of Tasers by the state's police force.
"This incident raises serious concerns about the way in which they're used," he said.
"What's a particular concern in this case is ... they used both capsicum spray and a Taser on this individual.
"There are serious questions whether that may have led to the person's death."
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell refused to comment on the incident until he had been fully briefed, but said his government supported the use of Tasers.
"We've always supported the use of Tasers as a non-lethal alternative," he said.
"Tasers versus guns is a clear choice."
Police are yet inform the man's family of his death.
Tasers were introduced into the NSW police force in 2009.
In October 2010, a man died after being tasered by police during a domestic dispute in western Sydney and there have been deaths from the use of Tasers in other states.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/man-shot-with-taser-stun-gun-dies-in-sydney/story-e6frfkvr-1226302868915#ixzz1pRvOYHbO
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