Inquest announced into Ajax man’s shooting death by police
Posted November 30, 2016 3:00 pm.
Last Updated November 30, 2016 3:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
An inquest has been announced into the death of a 47-year-old Ajax man, shot and killed by police three years ago.
Michael MacIsaac left his home naked on the morning of Dec. 2, 2013, after having an alleged physical confrontation with his spouse and sister-in-law.
Minutes later, witnesses saw him running and walking around the neighbourhood and then pounding on the cars of three separate drivers on Dring Street.
The third, who was in her driveway, drove away when MacIsaac approached her with a rock from a garden. He picked up a patio table and broke it against the front door of her house.
When police arrived, MacIsaac approached one officer with a metal table leg. When MacIsaac wouldn’t stop, the officer shot him twice.
He died in St. Michael’s Hospital the next day.
The province’s Special Investigations Unit cleared the officer of any wrongdoing in June 2014, saying “the officer’s fear for his life seems a reasonable one to have harboured, as was his belief that lethal force was necessary to preserve himself.”
MacIsaac’s family, however, was devastated by the news.
They said MacIsaac’s epilepsy could have contributed to his erratic behaviour and questioned whether police tried to de-escalate. They pointed out the interaction between MacIsaac and the officer was only 12 seconds long.
Durham police said officers are trained in de-escalation techniques, but only have a limited number of non-lethal weapons like Tasers at their disposal.
The inquest will start next March in Toronto, lasting two weeks and hearing from 18 witnesses. The jury can make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.
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