Police use Taser to subdue agitated man after Kal Beach assaults

RCMP used a Taser to bring an agitated man into custody Sunday evening after reports of multiple assaults at Kal Beach in Coldstream.

Cpl. Tania Finn says police received multiple reports of a man assaulting people at the beach about 8 p.m.

One man was punched unconscious in an altercation on Kal Pier and fell into the water.

While witnesses assisted the victim out of the water, the suspect continued to assault other people on the pier and beach.

Officers located the suspect in the parking lot, but he refused to comply with police direction and fled on foot toward the train trestle over Kalamalka Road. 

"The suspect was in a highly agitated state, standing at the top of the trestle and was screaming at police that he would kill them," says Finn. 

The officers attempted to de-escalate the situation verbally and encouraged the man to give himself up.

"Given the dangerous location and the suspect’s level of aggression, officers deployed a conducted energy weapon... This permitted officers to take the suspect into custody without further incident or injury to the suspect or the officers involved."

A 27-year-old man from Vernon remains in custody awaiting a court appearance. One of the victims was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Const. Stephanie Buchanan at 250-545-7171.