A 50 year-old Regina male is facing charges after an incident on Saturday, June 27th in which Regina Police Service members discharged a CEW, commonly known as a taser, in an arrest.
At approximately 1:51 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2015, police were dispatched to a park in the 900 block of Broder Street for a possible impaired driver. When officers arrived, they located a van, with an adult male behind the wheel. The officers observed the vehicle moving forward and backward erratically. Officers positioned themselves for a traffic stop and approached the vehicle. The male driver was uncooperative and aggressive, refusing police demands to show his hands and exit the vehicle. There was a brief struggle between the arresting officer and the suspect, who then reached back behind the seats to retrieve an object, possibly a weapon. (It was later discovered there was a hammer between the seats and an axe just behind that.) The officer deployed and discharged his CEW. The officers were able to take the male into custody without further incident and get him into the care of EMS personnel who were dispatched to the scene. The suspect was cleared medically and then placed under arrest. Subsequent investigation led to charges against this individual.
Fifty-year-old Daniel Richard DIPAOLO, DOB: 1965-05-28, of Regina, is charged with Impaired Driving, section 253(1)(a) CC; and Driving with a Blood Alcohol Level Exceeding .08, section 253(1)(b) CC. DIPAOLO was released on a Recognizance to appear in Provincial Court on August 4, 2015.
The use of the CEW has been documented as per policy and will be reviewed by a Use of Force Committee – a committee with the Service. All uses of force are also reported to the Saskatchewan Police Commission – an oversight body independent of the Regina Police Service.