CEW used twice on Sunday

Durham police are crediting their conducted energy weapons (CEW) – better known as Tasers – for helping resolve two incidents in Oshawa on Sunday.

The first came at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 30 when officers responded to a parking lot for an unknown trouble call. According to police, officers arrived at the scene to find a male bleeding from his arm and holding a knife, which he refused to drop. However, when an officer pointed a CEW at him, he dropped the knife. The male was later taken into custody and formed under the Mental Health Act.

The second incident came later that evening shortly before 8 p.m. According to police, officers responded to a domestic-related armed person call in the city, where they found a male in an apartment hallway holding two knives, which he refused to drop. Police say the male dropped the knives, but then advanced towards the officers, leading to the CEW to be used to subdue him.

A 34-year-old Oshawa male has been charged with forcible confinement, possession of a dangerous weapon and assault with a weapon in connection with this incident.