The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) has concluded its investigation into a death in police presence in the Rural Municipality of Prairie Lakes on July 22, 2022.
The RCMP notified the IIU of the incident on July 23, 2022. According to the notification, on July 22, 2022 at approximately 9:50 p.m., RCMP officers attended a residence to execute a warrant of arrest. Upon arrival, officers located the male suspect in the yard. The male retrieved a firearm from the residence and fired at police. There was an exchange of gunfire and the suspect retreated and barricaded himself in the residence. Officers observed smoke coming from the residence, which became engulfed in flames. Officers remained on scene as it was unknown if the male was still in the residence. At approximately 7 a.m. on July 23, 2022 a body was recovered within the residence.
As this matter concerned the death of a person that may have resulted from the actions of a police officer(s), IIU assumed responsibility for this mandatory investigation in accordance with section 65(4) of the Police Services Act.
Investigators reviewed:
- occurrence summary and report;
- subject behaviour reports;
- audio of RCMP radio transmissions;
- RCMP officers’ notes and narratives;
- Forensic Identification Service reports and photographs;
- fire investigation report; and
- preliminary and advanced reports on the death of the affected person.
Four RCMP officers were designated as witness officers. However, as there was nothing in the available evidence to support a finding that police contributed to the death of the affected person at any level, either by action or inaction, there were no grounds to justify the designation of any police officer as a subject officer.
