The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) has cleared an officer in a police-involved shooting that occurred in Prince George two years ago.
The IIO report states Mounties had received a 9-1-1 call saying an individual, referred to as the “Affected Person” or “AP” in the report, had committed stabbings at a residence.
It said the AP had gone along the street and had broken into another home, from which the RCMP received a second 9-1-1 call. He reportedly then left and attempted to enter a third residence nearby.
The report noted the AP was eventually taken into custody, but only after advancing on officers, ignoring commands to drop the knife he was carrying, and being shot by police.
He was taken to hospital with eight gunshot wounds, where he subsequently recovered.
“In this case, there were ample grounds for police to respond urgently to the 911 calls and to place the AP under arrest when they located him,” the report states.
“They had accounts from several civilian sources about the AP’s criminal acts up to that point, as well as their own observations of him.”
According to the IIO, the AP claimed he was attempting to surrender, but the officer took it as a threat.
The report states while the AP may have intended in his mind to surrender, independent civilian witnesses and the witness officer confirmed he was attempting to flee and break into private residences while armed with a knife.
“The evidence also establishes that after two reasonable but unsuccessful attempts by police to control the AP using a CEW, he moved quickly towards them, still brandishing the knife,” the report said.
“At that point, the officers were facing a threat of death or grievous bodily harm, and their deployment of lethal force was justifiable.”
The matter will not be referred to Crown counsel for consideration of charges.
The full report can be found here.
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