Tasered suspect\'s dad angry at police

Tag : Grey Clothes

"My son's dead," Minchin said, sobbing. "I only have one child."
Langan, 17, died after being Tasered by Winnipeg police when theyencountered him in a William Avenue back lane holding a knife.Langan had been living with his father since early July, andMinchin said he was panhandling to support both of them.
Minchin's memories of his son spilled out as he sat on the frontsteps of the rooming house where he lives.
"He didn't go back to school last year when school started,"Minchin said. "He was kind of a stubborn kid, you know? He didn'trespect me that much, I suppose. He was a kid so I still loved him.Harmless kid. Maybe he did some stupid things once in a while, butwho doesn't as a teenage kid, you know?
"He wasn't involved in any gangs. Sure, he liked to smoke pot andhe liked to drink a little bit, but what kid his age doesn't, youknow?"
One of Minchin's strongest recollections was of a football game hewent to with Michael.
"We went to the (2006) Grey Cup together when it was here inWinnipeg. That was fun. I had to bug my mother for a couple ofhours to get money to go to the game but I explained this is afather-son thing."
Minchin has heard that Michael's mother Sharon Shymko has beenmaking funeral arrangements, he said, but for now Minchin isrelying on the grapevine to relay news. He has no phone. "I've beenwandering around on the streets for a couple of hours lettingpeople know my son is dead," Minchin said.
"I want justice done," Minchin said. "This is not right. My son'snot going to die for nothing."
Minchin said he's angry at the police.
"They couldn't talk with him, negotiate for 10 minutes and talk tothe kid, you know?" he said. "If they could have been a little morepatient it might have been a different story."