Heather Barker died in March 2018. Her former partner has now been charged with manslaughter.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK
January 28, 2021 - 7:30 AM
A Vernon man recently charged with manslaughter in connection to the death of his partner almost three years ago was a registered pharmacist who later had his licence revoked due to his drug addiction.
According to the College of Pharmacists of B.C. Shaun Ross Wiebe had his registration suspended Dec. 27, 2019, almost two years after the death of his partner, Heather Barker.
A notice posted to the College of Pharmacists website states that Wiebe suffered from a substance addiction that rendered him unfit to practice.
On Jan. 22, the 43-year-old was arrested by the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP and then charged with manslaughter and assault causing bodily harm in connection with Barker’s death.
On Mar. 15, 2018, Barker, 37, was found by police in an unresponsive state in her Vernon home on Cordon Place, in the upmarket neighbourhood The Rise. The mother of three was then rushed to Vernon Jubilee Hospital where she later died.
Neighbours at the time told several media outlets that they’d heard yelling and shouting coming from the house.
Wiebe’s assault causing bodily harm charge stems from an incident that took place weeks before Barker died.
According to the College of Pharmacists his licence was suspended pending completion of an investigation in December 2019.
"The Inquiry Committee was satisfied that there is (sufficient) evidence that the registrant suffers from a substance addiction that renders him unfit to practice at this time," reads a notice posted on the College's website. "The Inquiry Committee was of the view that the registrant’s continued practice poses a risk to the public, and that this risk cannot be addressed at this time with conditions or limits. Therefore, nothing short of suspension at this time will adequately protect the public."
It's unclear if the investigation was ever completed as the College of Pharmacists refused to give out any other information except to confirm Wiebe first became registered in July 2002. He is no longer listed on the College's directory of registered pharmacists.
According to a 2015 article in the Vernon Morning Star, Wiebe graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2002 and moved to Vernon shortly afterwards. He ran the pharmacy at the Target store before it closed down and then opened up Wiebe’s Pharmacy on 35 Street in April 2015. According to the College, the pharmacy closed down in May 2018, months after Barker's death.
Wiebe doesn't appear to have any criminal record in B.C. although in November 2017 Wiebe received a ticket for distracted driving and failing to remain on the scene of an accident.
Wiebe remains in custody and is scheduled to have a date set for a bail hearing Feb. 10.
Police say a "comprehensive and exhaustive" investigation took place which led to the charges being laid almost three years after Barker died.
Shaun Ross Wiebe.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/ Shaun Wiebe
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