Struggle left man shot in both legs

Facts are still being gathered into circumstances surrounding a police involved shooting in the Central Okanagan last week which sent one man to hospital with gun shot wounds in both legs.

Mark Aaron Pauls, 24, was shot by a plainclothes Kelowna RCMP officer Friday evening after a brief struggle outside a residence in the 800 block of Thompson Road.

The officer identified Pauls as being the subject of a Canada-wide warrant. The struggle took place after the officer identified himself as police. The officer was sprayed with an irritant and Pauls was shot.

Corporal Annie Linteau says a number of investigative steps are being taken in order to find out exactly what happened.

“They include neighbourhood inquiries, the forensic examination of the firearm involved, the analysis of the irritant allegedly used by the suspect and the completion of the forensic analysis of the scene. The goal of this investigation is to gather all facts impartially and professionally in order to obtain an accurate picture of what took place,” says Linteau.

She says Pauls remains in police custody at Kelowna General Hospital where he is recovering from the gun shot wounds he received to both of his legs.

“He is being held on the strength of the outstanding Canada-wide warrant. His condition has so far prevented investigators from speaking to him. Police are hopeful that they will be able to speak to Mr. Paul and the police officer involved in this incident after they both have had a chance to recover.”

Linteau says investigators have collected between 30 and 35 witness statements so far.

She says, as in all police involved shootings, there will be an Independent Officer Review which will look at all circumstances surrounding the incident, as well as the subsequent investigation.

That review will be conducted by a Superintendent from the Kamloops RCMP detachment.