Watchdog wraps two police shooting investigations; neither officer charged

A police car is parked in front of Siloam Mission on Saturday morning, Jan. 29 (Ken Gabel, CTV News)

Manitoba's police watchdog has wrapped up two separate investigations into police shootings, determining the officers involved in both will not face charges.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) said the first investigation began following a police shooting that happened on Jan. 28, 2022.

MAN ARMED WITH KNIFE SHOT BY OFFICER IN SILOAM MISSION PARKING LOT: IIU

The IIU said police were called around 11 p.m. to the parking lot of Siloam Mission because of an ongoing fight. When officers arrived, they found a man who had been stabbed multiple times, and another man who was armed with a knife.

During the investigation, the IIU said it determined the man armed with the knife had been seen repeatedly stabbing another man.

"(He) refused to comply with verbal directions to drop the knife and became involved with another police officer while swinging the knife at the officer," the IIU said in a news release.

The IIU said an officer shot the man several times with his service pistol, because he feared the man could have potentially lethally injured them.

The man was taken to the Health Sciences Centre with a gunshot wound to his head and to his hip.

During the investigation, IIU investigators reviewed the police report and notes from officers, police radio communications, forensic reports, photographs from the scene, video surveillance and medical reports.

The investigators also interviewed four witness police officers, three civilian witnesses and a member of the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service.

The IIU said investigators met with the man who had been shot, but said he was unable to participate in any interviews due to his level of competency.

MAN WITH GUN SHOT BY POLICE AFTER POINTING FIREARM AT OFFICERS: IIU

The second investigation began following a police shooting that happened on July 13, 2022.

Around 3 p.m., police were called to a home on Gertrude Avenue where officers found a man in front of the home armed with a firearm.

"Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation by negotiation," the IIU said in a release, adding police used a Taser to try to disarm the man.

The IIU said the man then pointed the firearm at police, which is when one of the officers shot him.

Officers restrained the man and he was given first aid before he was taken to hospital in unstable condition. He was later upgraded to stable.

During the investigation, which included reviewing police reports and notes, 911 audio recordings, and multiple videos, police interviewed 10 witness officers, nine civilian witnesses and the man who had been shot by police.

NO REASONABLE GROUNDS FOR CHARGES: IIU

In both investigations, the IIU has said investigators concluded there were 'no reasonable grounds' to charge the officers involved.

The full reports into the two shootings will be released once the charges against the suspects are dealt with in court.