ERT member fired at fleeing truck

As a police chase on Westside Road was coming to an end on July 31, 2012, members of the Emergency Response Team opened fire on the suspects' vehicle.

That testimony was heard Tuesday in the Michael Edward Ellis attempted murder trial, after officers overheard radio dispatches of gunfire between a speeding minivan (later the suspects changed to a black pick-up truck) and members of the RCMP in West Kelowna.

Photo: Marzio Manderioli

A courtroom sketch of Michael Ellis during witness testimony. Sept. 17, 2014.

Cst. Justin Fradette took the stand and said he was in Vernon when the call came, and headed to the northern end of Westside Road to cut off the vehicle.

He was able to position his unmarked SUV across the southbound lane of traffic and set himself up on the passenger side, near the engine compartment. Fradette was equipped with his ERT issued M16 rifle and told the court he was able to squeeze off two rounds aimed at the driver’s door, before the truck whizzed past him.

Fradette arrived just in time at his location, stating he could see the black pickup truck driven by the suspects was right behind Cpl. Richard Gingras, who testified last week that he was rammed from behind and fired upon by those in the truck.

Fradette also revealed his surprise that the black truck was still moving, noting he had heard spike strips had been deployed, and said he remembers rubber still being on the truck’s tires.

After he fired his two shots, Fradette says the truck swerved to the right and briefly rolled along the shoulder while kicking up a cloud of dust and tearing off part of a tire, but corrected itself and continued northbound.

He saw two people inside the cab of the truck, but was not able to identify either person.

Fradette then jumped back into his vehicle and resumed the chase along with several other police vehicles. He caught up with the truck after it merged from Westside Road onto Highway 97 and began travelling east towards Vernon.

It was on a straight stretch of road north of Swan Lake when the truck began to slow as it moved towards an onramp.

He told the court that two men exited the vehicle before it came to a stop, with the driver getting out through the driver side window. The two men then ran off and were quickly apprehended by police.

As Fradette ran towards the truck, he noticed a female in the box laying on her side. Inside the cab, he testified to seeing a machine gun style firearm on the floor.

The trial is expected to last another week.