Qld: Man critically ill after use of capsicum spray in arrest

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2004
Qld: Man critically ill after use of capsicum spray in arrest

BRISBANE, April 12 AAP - A man police subdued with capsicum spray and arrested is critically
ill in a Cairns hospital.

Police said the 20-year-old collapsed and stopped breathing as they were taking him
to a police vehicle after his arrest on the Bruce Highway at Kewarra Beach, near Cairns.

Police said they were called about 9pm (AEST) yesterday after reports of a disturbance.

They said the man was behaving irrationally and attempting to walk in front of traffic
on the highway.

When they tried to take him into custody he violently resisted, struggling with officers
and making attempts to grab a police firearm, police said.

The man was handcuffed before he collapsed.

Police said they began to resuscitate the man and were assisted by a passing doctor
before the man was taken by ambulance to hospital, where he was in intensive care today.

The Queensland Police Ethical Standards Command and the Crime and Misconduct Commission
have begun an investigation, a police statement said.

AAP jfs/cjh/tnf

KEYWORD: COLLAPSE

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