File Photo of the Mackenzie Police Station

By Sam Bennison

Crime

Independent Investigation Office clears Mackenzie officer following a death on June 1, 2024

Jan 27, 2025 | 4:23 PM

PRINCE GEORGE— The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of B.C. has concluded its investigation into a police-involved shooting death of a man in Mackenzie.

The IIO report the situation began on June 1, 2024 when an individual allegedly tried to cash a fraudulent cheque. The teller reported it to the police when she noticed the cheque was dated for that day, but the signature belonged to a person who the teller knew had died in 2021.

The individual was arrested by the police. However, the individual was not placed into handcuffs as the officer knew them and that in the past they were cooperative.

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Another officer who witnessed the events says he heard that both the individual and the officer ran around a corner.

Video of the interaction, that was provided to the IIO, shows the officer wrestling with the subject. However the individual managed to fight off the officer and two other civilians. The individual then pulled out a black pistol and pointed it at the officers head but was unable to fire off a shot before the police got out his service pistol and fired a round into the individuals neck.

The witness officer found the individual and officer and attempted to perform life-saving measures. The individual was rushed to the hospital by ambulance where he was declared deceased.

The gun that the individual had pulled on the officer was determined to be a 3D printed plastic 9mm. The IIO says it was fully functional and loaded. The IIO adds that when the individual pulled out the gun it gave the officer reasonable grounds to believe he faced immediate death or previous bodily harm and that the deployment of lethal force was necessary and justified.

The IIO investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.

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Email: sam.bennison@pattisonmedia.com