Man dies after dog bite and Taser hit

A man who refused to leave his car has died after being Tasered and pepper-sprayed by police, and having a dog set on him.

He is understood to have been Gregory McPeake, 53, who was wanted by police on suspicion of beating his elderly parents with a cosh or club at their home in Hastings on Thursday evening.

A police patrol spotted him in a car park on the beach in Westshore, Napier, early on Friday morning. Officers tried to talk him out of the car, but he refused.

They smashed the car windows and fired Tasers at him, peppersprayed him and set a dog on him.

When they finally removed him from the car, McPeake was struggling to breathe and his colour changed. Police gave him first aid, but he died at the scene.

He is believed to be the first person in New Zealand to have died after being Tasered.

At one stage, 10 officers were called to the car park, and two Tasers were fired, one of which hit him. He also suffered a dog bite.

Acting Eastern district commander Superintendent Mike Johnson would not say why so many options were used to arrest McPeake, or if he was trying to harm himself.

There was evidence of alcohol in the car ‘‘and that will be looked into further’’, Johnson said.

McPeake, who is believed to have had a daughter, had been living in Taranaki, and had not been in contact with his parents, Ray and Barbara, for some time.

A relative, who would not be named, said he had been ‘‘pretty well disowned by the family with the problems he had caused’’.

‘‘He got quite a bit into the drug scene and things like that.’’

Ray McPeake, 76, was injured in the attack at his home, and spent the night in hospital before being discharged on Friday.

Johnson said police were conducting extensive investigations, ‘‘carefully examining the actions of the man himself, the police staff involved and the circumstances of both instances’’.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority would conduct its own investigation.

Johnson could not say whether the Taser burst that struck McPeake had been effective or how long it had lasted.

For years, Taser critics have warned the 50,000-volt stun-gun could be linked to a death.

Former Green MP Keith Locke said on Friday: ‘‘While this incident is yet to be fully investigated, shocking this man with a Taser could have contributed to his death. There have been several deaths in other countries following the police use of Tasers.

‘‘Police in New Zealand have been too complacent about the medical effects of Taser use. People with heart problems are in danger of serious injury or death when hit with a 50,000-volt Taser shock, particularly if they are already in an emotional state.

‘‘I hope this death provokes a full review of the dangers accompanying the use of Tasers, taking into account the international literature on Taser deaths.’’

Police Association president Greg O’Connor called on people to refrain from speculation, until the facts of the case were known.

‘‘Police officers do the job the public ask them to do, and dealing with violent offenders is an integral part of that.

‘‘Those of us who were safe at home should refrain from criticising police actions until all facts are known.

‘‘Those who felt the need to comment negatively on police actions should be aware of the impact of such comments on the individual officers and their families. The officers were at the scene doing the job expected of them.’’