The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) has concluded its investigation into the injury of a 36-year-old man during his arrest by RCMP in The Pas. The IIU has concluded no charge should be laid against the subject officer.
In the early morning of July 30, 2019, officers in The Pas responded to a call from a male who said he intended to kill himself. Two officers attended a residence and observed a man in a second-storey window holding a long-barreled gun. Additional officers attended, including a negotiator and an officer trained in the use of a “less lethal” firearm. A four-hour stand-off ensued, during which time the man taunted officers to shoot him and went in and out of his house holding three different firearms. At one point, the man approached officers with his hands in the air, then lowered his hands to his waist area. When he refused to show his hands as commanded, one officer fired a low velocity Extended Range Impact Weapon (ERIW), striking the man in the chest. The weapon had no effect and the man ran back into the house. (The ERIW is a less-lethal use of force option that fires a 40-millimetre foam-tipped projectile.)
Approximately 90 minutes later, the man exited the house and was apprehended without further incident. He was taken to the local RCMP detachment and given medical attention for a bruise and abrasion on his chest.
Any injury resulting from the use of a police firearm is considered a serious injury under IIU regulations, so the agency was mandated to investigate.
In his report on the investigation, IIU Civilian Director Zane Tessler said the actions of the subject officer and all officers present were designed to protect police and save the man’s life. He wrote that “the choice to use a less lethal force was appropriate, reasonable and not excessive.”
The man remains before the Court on charges arising out of this incident. The civilian director’s complete report will be available online following disposition of the charges.
The details of this investigation were first announced on September 16, 2019.
