Quesnel RCMP cleared in fatal 2021 shooting

The IIO report says that RCMP learned that the man in the car was a noted drug trafficker in the community with a significant criminal record involving firearms and drug offences and was subject to a weapons prohibition and an outstanding arrest warrant.

All four officers drew their pistols and stepped back behind police vehicles, later asking the man to come out of his vehicle with his hands up. Moments later there was movement in the vehicle with officers noticing the man was reaching for his gun. They then heard a shot and returned fire, killing the man.

The IIO noted the following in their report regarding the events:

“The involved officers were acting in lawful execution of their duty, initially investigating a suspicious vehicle that had earlier fled from police, and then attempting to arrest AP (affected person) pursuant to warrants once they recognized him as the vehicle’s occupant. When they observed the presence of a shotgun in the cab, that and AP’s criminal history and background gave them cause for caution. Their plan to contain AP, call him out and arrest him away from the shotgun was a reasonable one.”

The investigation also revealed that one officer at the scene fired twice while a second officer fired between 26 and 29 times with the autopsy report showing the man dying from a total of 11 bullet wounds.

The report says while the actions of the officer who shot 26 to 29 shots may not have been perfect, they were not unreasonable and did not rise to the level of criminality.

Chief Civilian Director Ron MacDonald added that “I do not consider that there are reasonable grounds to believe that an officer may have committed an offence under any enactment and therefore the matter will not be referred to Crown counsel for consideration of charges.”

by CKPG Today

Quesnel RCMP cleared in fatal 2021 shooting

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