FILE PHOTO
(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
October 24, 2023 - 1:52 PM
BC's police watchdog isn't recommending charges against a police officer who shot a man in Louis Creek last year.
The man was injured and taken to hospital, but after reviewing the evidence, chief civilian director Ronald J. McDonald found the officer did not commit a criminal offence, according to an Independent Investigations Office of BC news release issued today, Oct. 24.
The shooting was on May 20, 2022, when Barriere RCMP were initially called for report of a man with a weapon along Highway 5.
Police were called around 9 p.m., where a man had been dropped off on the side of the road. Officers found the man, but it's not clear what happened before guns were drawn.
Around 10 p.m., police shot the man and RCMP officers were uninjured. The officers gave the man first aid until paramedics arrived and took the man to hospital.
The police watchdog reviewed forensic evidence, video footage, medical records and police statements before coming to its conclusion. However, it won't be releasing its full report until the separate police investigation is concluded, according to the release.
The IIO is the independent civilian oversight agency of the police in BC. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.
— This story was corrected at 9 a.m., Oct. 27, 2023, to correctly say the RCMP officer did not commit a criminal offence.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.
News from © iNFOnews, 2023