EDMONTON — A disciplinary hearing has found the son of a former Edmonton police chief guilty of using excessive force for Tasering a 16-year-old boy 10 years ago.
The incident took place in October 2002, when Const. Mike Wasylyshen was attempting to arrest Randy Fryingpan, who police suspected of trying to steal a car.
In the incident, Wasylyshen was found to have deployed his Taser at Fryingpan eight times in 68 seconds.
The hearing was told Fryingpan was found passed out in the back of a vehicle.
He testified that he had no memory of the incident, because he blacked out.
Wasylyshen testified Fryingpan was aggressive and threatening but the presiding officer, Calgary police Insp. Paul Manuel, dismissed that testimony, saying Wasylyshen was just trying to justify his actions.
“How could Randy Fryingpan be expected to comply?”asked Manuel.
“He was being pulled at, yelled at, and tasered.”
Wasylyshen’s father, Bob Wasylyshen, was Edmonton police chief at the time and ruled no officers involved should face a disciplinary hearing.
However, Alberta’s Law Enforcement Review Board said that no evidence was presented to justify the use of a Taser and recommended Wasylyshen be charged.
The hearing will reconvene Nov. 2 to determine Wasylyshen’s penalty, which could range from a reprimand to being dismissed from his job.