No charges for Grand Forks RCMP officer who shot drunk driving suspect
An officer from the Grand Forks RCMP detachment will not face charges for shooting a suspected drunk driver during a tense confrontation four years ago, prosecutors announced Friday.
In explaining the decision, the B.C. Prosecution Service said the driver was accelerating his pickup truck toward police when the officer opened fire back in May 2018.
Three officers had tried boxing the driver in using separate RCMP vehicles, but the suspect "proceeded to ram his truck against” them in an effort to evade capture, the BCPS wrote in a summary of the incident.
One officer then positioned his cruiser "nose-to-nose" with the pickup and stepped out to make an arrest when the driver starting driving towards him again, prosecutors said.
The officer fired four shots, which struck the suspect in the shoulder and torso, leaving him in critical condition.
The suspect ultimately survived his injuries, and was later charged with assault with a weapon, impaired driving, dangerous driving and flight from police.
B.C.'s police watchdog, the Independent Investigations Office, investigated the incident and submitted a report to Crown counsel in October 2019, finding "reasonable grounds exist" to believe the officer involved in the shooting had committed an offence.
More than three years later, the prosecutors said they had reviewed the report and determined the evidence does not meet their charge assessment standards.
The IIO responded with a statement of its own Friday, pointing to "important evidence" that wasn't included in the BCPS summary of the case – namely, a video showing the officer's movements after leaving his cruiser.
The video raised questions about "whether (the officer) had in fact moved out of danger, and then moved back toward the (driver's) vehicle as it moved forward" before opening fire, according to the statement.
The IIO said the video challenges other evidence that was submitted about the officer's movements, and whether he had "objective grounds to fear for his life and safety or took advantage of a reasonable alternative means of escape" – but the watchdog accepted the Crown's position that it wasn't enough to support a prosecution.
The IIO rarely issues a proactive response to charging decisions from the BCPS, but said it wanted to do so Friday in the interest of transparency around its investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.