Disturbing state of affairs

First off, a disclaimer:

I'm not generally one to slag law enforcement (unless I recently received a speeding ticket). I know a lot of people involved with related occupations, and I think they're definitely upstanding guys and gals who sincerely try to make the world a better place. Don't get me wrong... I think that some people do it because of little-man syndrome or they may have general rage issues and simply love being the guy in charge. Some teachers are like this too... funny how these two personalities show up in completely different occupations. Nonetheless, I was absolutely appalled by what I saw on the news tonight.

About a month ago, a story came out that a man in Vancouver International Airport was killed in a taser incident with police. I didn't read much about it, since I was busy with work and wasn't paying very close attention to world affairs. I'm not gonna lie... I assumed he was a nutcase or threatened police or had a gun or something.
However...

Tonight I turned on my TV and a video of the tasering incident had been released to news agencies, and with the standard warning of intense content, they showed the video. Likewise, they also gave the background story of the incident.

Go here, if you have a few minutes... it's the whole story including the link to the video. And I really suggest you go.

Here's the event in brief (according to Global News and what I could get from CBC and the video):

A man is blocking off an area of the airport with chairs near a security wing. He doesn't speak English (not a single word), and some spectators believe he's speaking Russian. He is obviously upset, but has no way of communicating with anyone in the airport. At one point, he throws a computer because he's so frustrated. Security personnel come and block entrance to the secure area that the man is in... there is no one else in that section of the terminal with him (he's totally alone). Four police officers finally show up on the scene. They approach the agitated, sweating man and try to communicate with him with no luck. They know he doesn't speak English and there's talk of getting someone in who speaks Russian. They order him over to a wall, and although he doesn't totally understand, he makes his way over to the appointed wall. Within a few quick seconds, the police pull out a taser gun and fire, hitting the man in the chest. The man immediately starts convulsing, hitting the floor and rolling around in serious pain. The electric shock is surging through him. On the tape you can hear "Hit 'em again!" by one of the police officers, and they hit the trigger again, sending another shock of electricity to him. While he is still convulsing, the officers (4 in total) begin to pile on him and once he is done being shocked, he writhes in pain under the weight of 2, then 3, officers. The fourth jumps on after he is finished zapping the guy.

One officer places his knee on the back of the man's neck to restrain him while the other three officers proceed to hold the man down and handcuff him. Even when the man stops moving altogether, the one officer maintains his full weight of his body on the back of the neck of the man. Within a few seconds, the man is still limp and the audio picks up a message of "Code Red". Another man steps in to check the pulse of the pinned "criminal" and doesn't seem to get anything. Emergency personnel show up a few minutes later and pronounce that the man is dead.

Never did this man threaten police. Never did this man make any gestures for a weapon. It took the RCMP a total of 25 SECONDS to use their taser on this man from the time they came on the scene. He didn't speak a word of English and they knew that.

So my questions are: WHY? And HOW?

This man came to Canada to immigrate and live with his mother in Kamloops. Before leaving, she told him to get to the baggage terminal and stay there until she showed up. He was in the airport for over 8 hours in total. His mother arrived, looked for him extensively, asked for help from the airport with no results, and ended up heading back to Kamloops, hoping to hear something from the airport.

The man was tired, agitated, misunderstood, and couldn't communicate with anyone. For 8 HOURS! This too, after a likely 7-8 hour flight (or more!). And for this agitation, he's dead.

Watch the video for yourself. I like to think of myself as fairly forgiving and understanding, but watch it for yourself. Please. This simply shouldn't happen. He was looking for a better life with his mother, and because he was exhausted and angry and misunderstood, he died.

He should have lived to see another day. Period.

T