No wrongdoing by officers in July 2024 Sylvan Lake incident

The suspect, or Affected Person (AP), had already been spoken to by police twice earlier that day and was no longer supposed to be in the home.

It was also said the AP had threatened his common-law spouse.

During the 11 p.m. response, the AP is said to have barricaded himself in the bathroom and was believed to have a crowbar.

RCMP instructed him to exit the washroom, but the AP told them that he would kill himself if they tried to arrest him.

Once the door was opened, the AP was seen holding scissors to his neck, and an altercation ensued. The AP became injured by the scissors, then one of the responding officers was stabbed on the webbing of his hand between the right thumb and index finger.

During the commotion, the officer who was injured shouted at the AP: “You stabbed me, you mother******, I’ll kill you! I should ****ing put one in your head.”

According to the report, the AP sustained a single puncture wound to the left side of his neck, and was first transported to the Sylvan Lake RCMP detachment, where he was assessed by Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Due to the nature of his injury, including a goiter-like wound to the left side of his neck and indications of a possible upper airway obstruction, the report reads, he was transported to the Red Deer Regional Hospital for further treatment, and then taken by STARS Air Ambulance to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary for surgery.

On the matter of force, the report concludes that, “Subject officers were required or authorized by law to arrest the AP and acted reasonably in doing so. Their use of force was proportionate, necessary, and reasonable. As a result, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an offence was committed.”

In addition, the officer who made the threat against the AP was considered for a criminal charge of uttering threats.

“Viewed in isolation, these words are capable of conveying a threat of death or serious bodily harm,” the report continues.

“They were uttered, however, in the midst of a rapidly evolving physical struggle in which officers were trying to gain control of the AP, who remained armed with a pair of scissors and had just injured [an officer]. The comments were made in an emotionally charged and highly volatile context immediately following [the officer’s] realization that he had been injured.”

The matter involving the officer’s uttering threats was referred to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) in March 2026. On June 2, the ACPS recommended no charges.

In accordance with that recommendation, ASIRT has decided not to press charges.

Due to the nature of the original incident, no further information can be shared about charges against the AP.

The full report from ASIRT and the PRC can be read here.

by Josh Hall

No wrongdoing by officers in July 2024 Sylvan Lake incident

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