The Regina Police Service is advising the public of the discharge of a CEW, commonly known as a taser, today in the arrest of a 38 year-old Regina female, who was threatening self-harm with a knife. This advisory is in keeping with the Regina Police Service’s commitment to notify the public each time a CEW is discharged against a person.
At approximately 10:24 a.m. on Friday, May 20, 2016, police were dispatched to a park in the north end of Regina for a report of a female, who had contacted the RPS Communications Centre threatening self-harm. Two police officers located the individual in the park and observed that she was carrying a knife. After a brief foot-chase, the officers negotiated with the woman, who was highly-emotional and agitated. The female’s words and actions indicated she intended to harm herself with the knife. After several minutes of unsuccessful negotiation, at the point where the woman attempted to cut herself, one officer deployed his CEW, causing her to drop the knife. Officers were able to take her safely into custody and requested EMS to the scene as per policy. The woman was medically cleared for physical injury by EMS at the scene; she was then transported to hospital in order to obtain the appropriate health services before being taken home.
The female is not facing any charges at this time; she was unharmed during the incident and was not injured as a result of the CEW deployment. The use of the CEW has been documented as per policy and will be reviewed by a Use of Force Committee – a committee within the Service. All uses of force are also reported to the Saskatchewan Police Commission – an oversight body independent of the Regina Police Service.