The male that collapsed after being involved in an altercation with the Surrey RCMP Officer on Tuesday night has passed away in hospital. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team would also like to update information previously released to the media that has been learned to be different from what was originally known.

The male has been identified as 46 -year-old David James STITT of Surrey. At this time a cause of death has not been determined. The cause of death will be determined through the autopsy and subsequent pathology report. Mr. STITT was not known to police. Next of kin have been notified.

As previously released on June 17, 2008 at approximately 11:48 PM Surrey RCMP received a complaint of a disturbance in the 13500 block of Crescent Road.

Surrey RCMP dispatched officers to the disturbance, the first officer arrived at the scene and was met by a male that was in an agitated state. The officer spoke to the lone male in an attempt to defuse the situation. The interaction continued, a violent struggle ensued during which an area resident observed the altercation and came to assist the police officer, as did a person driving by the scene. The second officer then arrived on scene and aided with the agitated male. The male was eventually arrested and place into handcuffs.

During the interaction with the male the officer attempted to defuse the agitated male using verbal intervention. It has been learned that the male was not compliant with the officers commands and in fact became non-co-operative and resistant. As the male moved toward the officer with a stick in hand (thought to be a broomstick) the officer deployed O.C Spray (also known as pepper spray). The male continued to advance toward the officer and engaged in a physical altercation with her. The officer, now involved in a combative situation, deployed her defensive baton, striking the male in the lower body.
The male was eventually arrested and placed in handcuffs with the assistance of two civilians and an additional officer that arrived on scene.

The male while still in handcuffs was brought to his feet in order to be taken into custody. Moments later, while being escorted on foot to the police vehicle the male suddenly collapsed. Officers on scene immediately assessed the male and determined that he was in medical distress. CPR was started immediately and emergency medical personnel were dispatched.

Medical intervention was handed over, upon arrival of Emergency Medical Personnel. The male was eventually transported to a local area hospital where he remains in critical condition.

During the altercation the officer received some minor injuries for which she was treated at hospital and later released.

At this point in the investigation, there is no evidence to suggest that the officer used any other form of weapon for intervention other than that described above. It had been previously released and reported that the officer did not use any weapons during the altercation.

Investigators are continuing to follow-up and gather additional information in order to discover in detail exactly what went on during this altercation. Investigators are committed to getting to the truth of the matter as quickly as possible.

The Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP has involved their independent observer program into this investigation. This is a program where there is live civilian oversight to ensure a non-biased and impartial investigation on behalf of the police is conducted in real time.

Investigators are interested in learning more about that fact that the male may have been involved in a couple of encounters earlier in the evening with motorists on Crescent Road . Investigators are asking anyone that may have an encounter sometime prior to midnight Tuesday June 17, 2008 with a male on Crescent Road to call the IHIT TIP line at 1-877-543-9217.

Corporal Dale Carr will be available for media interviews until 8:00PM at Surrey Detachment located at 14355 57th Avenue Surrey, BC

Released by:

Cpl. Dale L. Carr
Strategic Communications/Media Spokesperson
Integrated Homicide Investigative Team
12992 76 Avenue Surrey BC V3W 2V6
Office No.: (604) 598-4609
Cell No.: (604) 760-8020
Fax No.: (604) 543-4992
ediv_internet_webmaster@rcmp-grc.gc.ca


Related Articles:
Surrey

Sound like a cover up somewhere

Sounds like another crack head flippin out.

so what, he was probably high on drugs. If she hit him with her asp it would have been in the side of the legs. I dont feel sorry for people like this. Nobody asked him to attack the female cop.

True i've had the cops do a number on me and i could of died from the force they gave me.............but i still live.........FREAKIN COPS

I also think he was whacked out on crack or something and the altercation probably made some pre existing condition act up and he probably died because of it.

Why crack?.......maybe meth

The Polish imigrant getting tazered then choked was totaly unjustified, same as the 82 year old in the hospital bed getting tazered. However I don't get to excited when these crack heads and meth addicts get slapped around a bit. Personaly I am sick and tired of everyone pandering to the scum we got wondering our streets.

These looney toon safe injection sites ect are bogus also.

I dont know why I said crack lol.

Anyway drug like that is bad anyway.

Freakin Surrey is a scary scary place man. I remember years ago I went to go visit my cousin in Surrey , at the time I didnt know how to get around and his place was within walking distance. Anyway I left his place eventually and started off for the Skytrain and I was almost at King George when I noticed some truck with 3 gang lookin dudes were inside starin at me. I started to get close to a stop sign and they were waiting there for me and I noticed so I just ran right across the highway and nearly got smoked by a car. I'd rather get smoked by a car than shot to death by some gangsters.

I dont go to Surrey anymore , not even to visit my sister.

What color?

Whenever you see cops, run for your lives!

There is a good chance you will get killed when you meet them for whatever reason.

It's interesting that IHIT is now investigating this...

Back to the basics here now. For one, although I'm all for 'equality,' does anyone else see a problem with dispatching a lone female officer out late at night to a disturbance call such as this?

No doubt the rcmp have to go, but lets get one thing staright here.

If it is fact the female officer engaged the aggresive male with the use of the baton in self defence good on her.

This agiitated male could have ended up like a piece of swiss cheese or electrocuted by taser.

The cops have to defend themselves and in this case used measured restraint it appears. Lets not get carried away with time consuming investigations on general police activity. Let us redress the young man in Housten BC, past corrupt investigations that allowed certain cops off the hook,the rcmp pension fiasco, and what about the only good rcmp that was drummed out, Reed I think was his name.

The rcmp are on watch by the community thats for sure being Canada's largest armed gang, but one has to defend one's self against aggression. Attention: REGISTER / LOGIN to view the image!

UPDATE: just read where the man died while in hospital......hmmm
.......hmmmm

....hmmmmm .....hmm Attention: REGISTER / LOGIN to view the image!

The women screamed for "equal" rights, "equal pay" they should get "equal danger". You are right though they shouldn't send them out alone.

News: Apple Mac OS X Code Name Snow Leopard
Mesothelioma Information
Canada Immigration