Tasers were ineffective in fatal police incident in Tecumseh, says OPP officer

More than four years since Tecumseh resident Derek Teskey was killed during a violent episode with OPP, the officer who delivered the fatal shot told a coroner's inquest that they were out of options.

Sgt. Trevor Davies of Tecumseh OPP is the first witness at the inquest, which began on Monday.

The home of Derek Teskey's mother on Estate Park in Tecumseh, where he was fatally shot by OPP on June 14, 2019. (Officer of the Chief Coroner of Ontario)

On the night of June 14, 2019, Davies fired a single pistol shot into Teskey's chest after Teskey had brandished edged weapons and fought with Tecumseh OPP officers. One officer suffered a stab wound to the forearm.

Teskey, 48, was rushed to Windsor Regional Hospital's Ouellette Campus, where he was pronounced dead.

The province's Special Investigations Unit has already cleared Davies of wrongdoing in the case. He will not face criminal charges.

The coroner's inquest, which is mandated by Coroners Act of Ontario, is not meant to assign blame. Its purpose is to develop recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

The inquest takes the form of a public hearing with a jury of five community hearings.

Davies is providing his testimony via remote video.

Inside the Tecumseh home of Derek Teskey's mother, where Teskey was fatally shot by OPP on June 14, 2019. (Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario)

The inquest heard that Teskey had a history of mental health problems and drug addiction. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had previous episodes of drug-induced psychosis and violent paranoia.

A post-mortem toxicology report said that cocaine, antidepressant medication, and anti-psychotic medication were found in Teskey's blood.

An evidence photo of the knife wielded by Derek Teskey, 48, of Tecumseh, when he was fatally shot by an OPP officer on June 14, 2019. (Special Investigations Unit)

The scene that resulted in Teskey's death took place in the home of his mother on Estate Park in Tecumseh.

Teskey's mother called 911 after her son suddenly became enraged and threatened to harm himself. Five officers including Davies were at the house within minutes.

Described as a large man, Teskey was armed with a steak knife and a pair of scissors. He refused to come out of the home's upper bathroom, swore at officers and said he wanted to die.

Davies was the ranking officer at the scene. He had one officer continue negotiations with Teskey while he arranged three officers to use their Tasers in a coordinated manner.

Davies himself would have his firearm drawn and aimed as a last resort.

Davies told the inquest that pepper spray was not an option due to the confined environment and close quarters: The officers would have been as affected by the spray as Teskey.

The scissors wielded by Derek Teskey, 48, of Tecumseh, when he was fatally shot by an OPP officer on June 14, 2019. (Special Investigations Unit)

Despite OPP's efforts, the situation deteriorated when Teskey closed the bathroom door, turned on the water, and stopped communicating.

At that point, Davies had an officer open the bathroom door to check on Teskey's well-being.

The action set off Teskey, who advanced on the officers with the knife and scissors in his hands. The officers used their Tasers, to no effect.

A physical struggle ensued, with all those involved falling down the home's staircase. Teskey was on his back when he swung his weapons, stabbing one officer deeply in the forearm.

"This unfolded extremely rapidly," Davies told the inquest. "Seconds would be too long to describe how fast that scenario changes."

The staircase inside the Tecumseh home of Derek Teskey's mother, where Teskey became violent with OPP officers before he was fatally shot on June 14, 2019. (Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario)

The officers backed off Teskey.

Davies said Teskey was getting to his feet, looking at him, and shouting abuse. "His demeanour led me to believe he was about to attack me," Davies told the inquest. "I had no other option."

Davies fired his nine-millimetre sidearm once, striking Teskey's right chest. The gunshot wound proved to be deadly.

The inquest heard that Derek Teskey was a married man, and the father of two children.

The hearing continues this week.