ASIRT finds Red Deer RCMP officer’s use of firearm to be proportionate
A concluded investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has found a Red Deer RCMP officer’s non-fatal shooting of a suspect in a Sept. 21, 2021 incident to be a reasonable and proportionate use of force.
ASIRT executive director Michael Ewenson, who conducted the investigation, determined that the subject officer (SO) was lawfully executing their duties and found themselves in a situation where the use of force appeared necessary to their self-preservation and the safety of other officers.
On the day in question, RCMP received a call from an elderly male who said his stepson had broken into his home through a window, a residence officers confirmed the suspect was prohibited from entering due to a court imposed condition, although, the stepfather reported that he generally ignored that order and kept a room for the suspect to occasionally stay in.
Multiple officers responded to the scene, where the SO informed the suspect he was under arrest and asked him to put his hands behind his head and walk backwards towards them. Officers reported the suspect did not comply and retreated into the bathroom behind him, where the SO observed him with a knife in his hand.