(ASIRT)

By rdnewsNOW staff

2019 Incident

ASIRT completes investigation into fatal pursuit involving Blackfalds Mounties

Dec 21, 2023 | 1:21 PM

An investigation into a fatality following a pursuit by Blackfalds RCMP four years ago has determined the actions of responding officers were reasonable despite the tragic consequences.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) investigation also acknowledged that while the actions of responding officers may have contributed to the situation, the collision and tragic death of a passenger in the suspect vehicle was caused by the suspect’s extreme driving, saying there are no reasonable grounds to believe any offences were committed by the officers.

The ASIRT investigation notes that it was on July 31, 2019, when a witness officer #1 (WO1) and other officers were in an alleyway in Blackfalds investigating a stolen and unoccupied vehicle. While investigating, WO1 heard gunshots nearby.

At 12:36 p.m., Blackfalds RCMP received a 9-1-1 call reporting gunshots at a community hall in Blackfalds. The caller said that a black sporty car left the hall after the shots were fired. Video surveillance from the hall showed what appeared to be a black Ford Mustang.

Officers later attended the community hall and located two shotgun casings in the parking lot.

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According to the ASIRT investigation, at 12:50 p.m., a black Mustang drove into the alley in front of WO1, noting the driver appeared to try to pick up two individuals until noticing WO1.

WO1 then moved to block the Mustang’s path, and the driver of the Mustang hit WO1’s vehicle and a building to escape.

The investigation revealed there appeared to be a male driver. However, only on later inspection of the video was it apparent there was a passenger in the rear seat. The driver of the Mustang drove away from the area quickly.

The investigation reveals the Mustang was next observed in the City of Red Deer at 12:59 p.m. At this time, the communications for Blackfalds and Red Deer RCMP officers were joined so that they could all hear each other. The driver again fled quickly and was not observed again until 1:01 p.m. It was lost again and then observed at 1:07 p.m. by WO1, who pursued him. A supervisor authorized the use of a tire deflation device if needed. The driver of the Mustang drove away quickly and dangerously, including driving on the wrong side of the road. At 1:07 p.m., the driver of the Mustang drove by a Red Deer residence and appeared to drop an object from the car.

This object was later recovered. It was a loaded revolver. A Red Deer RCMP supervisor, witness officer #2 (WO2), told WO1 to stop pursuing due to the risk to the public at 1:08 p.m. The driver of the Mustang fled east outside of the city. WO2 told unmarked police vehicles to look for the Mustang, and for all marked vehicles to remain in Red Deer.

At 1:34 p.m., witness officer #3 (WO3) spotted the Mustang, which was being driven normally. WO3 advised other officers of the location but did not pursue.

At 1:40 p.m., witness officer #4 (WO4) noticed that the Mustang was behind him on Highway 815. The Mustang was still being driven normally so WO4, who was in an unmarked vehicle, advised other officers of the location and continued to drive in front of the Mustang.

At that time, subject officers #1 and #2 (SO1 and SO2) were in an unmarked police vehicle parked on the side of Highway 815.

At 1:43 p.m., WO4 and then the Mustang drove by SO1 and SO2. They began to pursue the Mustang, accelerating quickly and activating their emergency lights. The driver of the Mustang accelerated quickly and began to pull away from SO1 and SO2 while moving into the wrong lane on the highway.

Subject officer #3 (SO3) was at the nearby intersection of Highways 815 and 11 with a tire deflation device. The driver of the Mustang moved back into the correct lane of the highway and pulled further away from SO1 and SO2.

As they entered a curve before the intersection of Highways 815 and 11, the driver of the Mustang passed WO4, narrowly missing him.

At the same time, SO3 deployed a tire deflation device to cover the left lane of Highway 815. The intersection of Highways 815 and 11 had stop signs for drivers on Highway 815 only, giving drivers on Highway 11 the right of way. At that time, the civilian witness (CW) was driving on Highway 11 approaching the intersection.

After passing WO4, the driver of the Mustang moved to the far-right lane and went around SO3’s tire deflation device. He then braked and started to slide sideways. The driver of the Mustang was then attempting to turn left and sliding considerably.

The Mustang entered the intersection while sliding, and went into the path of the CW, causing him to hit the Mustang. The CW’s truck pushed the Mustang into the ditch. Affected person #1 (AP1), who was in the back seat, was thrown from the Mustang.

Multiple officers approached the Mustang and arrested affected person #2 (AP2), who was in the driver’s seat. Neither affected person had been wearing a seatbelt. AP1 was transported by ambulance to a hospital and declared deceased.

An autopsy stated that she died of blunt force traumatic injuries. AP2 was airlifted to hospital with various traumatic injuries. He remained in hospital until August 3, 2019. The CW was not injured. A shotgun was found in the Mustang.

AP2 was convicted of several offences from that day including dangerous operation causing death, flight from police, and possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition. He received a sentence of 72 months’ jail plus a conditional sentence order of 352 days.

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