Cop not charged in shooting

Photo: File photo

No charges will be filed against a member of the Salmon Arm RCMP in relation to a non-fatal shooting in 2015.

The July 3 incident incident was investigated by the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) and following the investigation, the Chief Civilian Director of the IIO determined officers may have committed offences and submitted a report to the BC Prosecution Service.

Dan McLaughlin, communications counsel for the BC Prosecution Service, said in a press release that in this case, the BCPS concluded the available evidence does not meet the charge assessment standard for approval of any charges against the police officers in connection with the incident.

On July 3, 2015 at 4:42 p.m., Salmon Arm police received a report a male suspect had robbed a gas station in Sicamous brandishing what appeared to be a firearm. The suspect fled in a vehicle westbound on Highway 1 with one of the owners of the gas station pursuing him on a motorcycle.

Following civilian reports, the RCMP attempted to set up containment using police vehicles near the intersection of Highway 1 and Bernie Road. As the suspect drove back toward the highway, he maneuvered his vehicle through the loose containment without striking any people or vehicles.

As the suspect’s vehicle turned off Bernie Road westbound onto Hwy 1, one of the RCMP officers fired a single shot at his vehicle, hitting nothing.

RCMP later located the suspect vehicle at a farm east of Salmon Arm.

Another officer with a Police Service Dog tracked the suspect to a dark storage room in the lower level of a disused barn. The dog entered the room, followed by the officer who yelled commands to the suspect and to the dog.

At some point, the dog seized the suspect’s thigh.

The suspect swung a baseball bat, hitting the officer and his firearm.

The officer fired several shots, some of which struck the suspect who was transported to hospital.