Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 17/05) - Police needed three zaps from a Taser to bring down a man trying to escape them.

The man was chased by RCMP from the Explorer Hotel to the Northern Arts and Culture Visitors Centre on Monday, June 13.

At the visitors centre he was recaptured by two on-duty officers, with the help of an off-duty officer who was in the area.

The RCMP were called to the Explorer Hotel at 3:53 p.m.

After being apprehended at the hotel for causing a disturbance, the suspect resisted arrest and fled, police say.

He ran off while still wearing handcuffs.

The suspect managed to get out of the handcuffs during his flight.

He was "combative" when approached, according to Sgt. Darcy Fleury.

He has been charged with resisting arrest and causing a disturbance at the hotel.

He is scheduled to appear in territorial court on Aug. 2.

Police said it took three blasts from the Taser to stop the man. The first two were delivered in "stun mode," by applying the Taser directly to the suspect.

Those two shocks had "no effect," said Sgt. Fleury.

Police resorted to taking him down with the Taser in "probe mode," where two, 1/4 inch fishhooks were shot into the suspect and the electricity delivered.

"He submitted after that," said Sgt. Fleury.

The model of Taser used by Yellowknife police pumps out 50,000 volts.

A household electrical outlet puts out 100 to 120 volts.

This is the second time a prisoner escaped from police in recent weeks.

A man jumped away from the Mounties enroute to the courthouse, May 24.

He was later convicted for that escape.