An investigation into the RCMP-involved death of a man on Peguis First Nation last year has found no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of the officers.
The Independent Investigation Unit, which investigates all police-involved deaths, led the investigation into the death of a man on Sept. 5, 2015.
RCMP officers responded after receiving a call about two people injured by a lone man shooting a gun from a vehicle in a ditch.
Witnesses would later tell investigators that they heard gunshots followed by the sound of a vehicle hitting the ditch. One witness who had contact with the suspect described him as “out of it,” under the influence of something, and visibly angry, IIU Civilian Director Zane Tessler said in the report.
When two witnesses approached and tried to calm the suspect down, they were both hit by a single bullet fired from the vehicle as they stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the road.
They immediately fled and called police.
Four officers, wearing body armour and carrying carbine rifles, went to the scene. They found a truck with bullet holes on the road and a Jeep in the ditch beside the truck.
The officers heard a male voice coming from the vehicle in the ditch, but couldn’t make out what he was saying. They told him to put his hands out the window, but got no response.
Suddenly, the officers heard a popping sound that they later determined to be a gunshot. They immediately ducked for cover.
No other sounds came from the vehicle.
After about an hour the officers went up to the vehicle and found the occupant dead, slumped in the driver’s seat, with a rifle beside him. An autopsy found traces of cocaine in the mans blood.
Forensic examiners concluded that the eight bullet holes found in the vehicle’s windows all originated inside the vehicle.
“Following a detailed review of the investigative file materials, I am satisfied there is absolutely no evidence or basis that any of the RCMP officers did or failed to do anything that caused or contributed to the death of AP,” Tessler said in the report.
Tessler said there will be no charges related to the case.
Read the full report:
FINAL REPORT: IIU concludes investigation into RCMP-involved fatality on Peguis First Nation
