Image Credit: IIO

By James Peters

IIO

Kamloops Mounties cleared of wrongdoing after suspected shoplifter slashed himself with broken liquor bottle

Feb 11, 2021 | 1:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — B.C.’s police watchdog has cleared Kamloops RCMP officers after they repeatedly used a taser on a suspected shoplifter who had injured himself with a broken liquor bottle.

Independent Investigations Office Chief Civilian Director Ronald MacDonald released a report into the December 19, 2020 incident Wednesday (Feb. 10).

RCMP officers arrived at a liquor store that evening after the report of a man trying to steal items.

As officers approached, the suspect grabbed a glass liquor bottle and smashed it, using the damaged bottleneck to hold the officers at bay before using it to slash himself in the throat.

MacDonald says RCMP officers used tasers a total of 13 times on the man, but the jolts had little effect, likely due to the man wearing heavy clothing. He continued to threaten officers and injure himself with the bottleneck.

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He was eventually taken into custody after dropping the bottleneck and falling to the floor. Attending paramedics rushed the man to hospital for treatment of his injuries.

MacDonald cleared the officers of playing a role in the man’s injuries, and noted their prompt first aid efforts “quite likely saved his life.”

Read the full report here.