Image Credit: Independent Investigations Office of BC

By James Peters

IIO

Police watchdog clears RCMP officer who shot and killed fleeing suspect in Tappen

Dec 3, 2020 | 11:01 AM

TAPPEN, B.C. — B.C.’s police watchdog has cleared an RCMP officer of wrongdoing after he shot and killed a man in Tappen 11 months ago.

The incident happened at a rural property on January 7 and 8, 2020.

RCMP officers responding to a mischief complaint found a man holed up in his home, armed with a knife and a firefighter’s axe. Members planned to arrest the man under the Mental Health Act and for outstanding warrants.

After an hours-long standoff, an RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT) members threw a tear gas canister into the home in an effort to force the man to exit.

He did leave the home, running to his car and driving it down the driveway in an escape attempt.

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In the process, the man drove directly at one RCMP member who was positioned near where the driveway met the street.

The officer fired about six shots toward the driver, hitting him in the head, chest and forearm, killing him.

In a report released Thursday (Dec. 3), Independent Investigations Office (IIO) Chief Civilian Director Ronald MacDonald says the officer who fired the shots was “clearly at imminent risk of very serious harm or death” and his use of lethal force was justified.

MacDonald says he will not refer the issue to Crown counsel for charge consideration.

Read the full report here.