Inquiry finds ‘excited delirium’ brought on Taser victim’s death

A fatality inquiry report into the death of a man who died in hospital six days after being Tasered during an arrest has concluded the 34-year-old died of excited delirium syndrome, brought on by methamphetamine use.

On Oct. 24, 2013, two Edmonton police officers on patrol witnessed Simon Chung, who was known to them, push a woman to the ground in the area of 96 Street and 106A Avenue. The officers approached to intervene and began to suspect Chung was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

According to the fatality inquiry report, one of the officers “began to believe Chung was in a state of excited delirium.”

Excited delirium is characterized by aggression, agitation and distress, sometimes leading to sudden death, and has often been tied to drug use. It’s not a medical diagnosis, but is often cited as a cause of death following Taser use.

A lengthy struggle ensued between the officers and Chung, who was displaying “extraordinary strength,” according to the officers. In the struggle to gain control and fearful for his partner’s safety, an officer deployed his Taser on Chung.

Chung broke off the probes and attempted to walk away, but the officer deployed the Taser again to stop him. In total, the blast of the Taser lasted for 28 seconds.

When other officers arrived at the scene, Chung, on the ground and in handcuffs, went into medical distress. He was transported to hospital, where he died six days later.

“Although the death of Chung ultimately followed the use of force in his restraint, it could not be concluded that the use of such force was the cause of his death and statistically, it’s not likely that it was,” the report reads, citing testimony by expert witness Dr. Christine Hall.

Excited delirium syndrome, which the medical examiner determined was Chung’s cause of death, was brought on by a toxic level of methamphetamine in his body, the report concluded.

Fatality inquiries have no mandate to assign blame, but the presiding judge can make recommendations to the provincial justice minister in the final report.

In this case, provincial court Judge Lloyd Malin made two recommendations.

First, he said that although the Edmonton Police Service already makes mention of excited delirium syndrome in its policy and procedure manual on use of force, police should be trained to recognize the symptoms in all situations, not just during arrests.

He also recommended that officers be trained to call for emergency medical services as soon as the syndrome is suspected, regardless of the need for police to restrain an individual.

In 2014, an Alberta Serious Incident Response Team investigation concluded the responding officers had used reasonable force while arresting Chung.