No charges in 2015 Salmon Arm police shooting

May 16, 2018 | 3:58 PM

VICTORIA — Nearly three years after the fact, the BC Prosecution Serivce (BCPS) has finally announced that no charges have been approved against members of the Salmon Arm RCMP involved in a non-fatal shooting near Salmon Arm.

The incident took place on July 3, 2015 when the officers were responding to a complaint of an armed robbery at a gas station involving a man near Sicamous. The suspect reportedly fled the scene in a vehicle.

During the officers’ efforts to catch the suspect, two officers “discharged their firearms in separate encounters with the suspect.”

“In the second encounter, the suspect sustained serious gunshot injuries,” says the BCPS. “The suspect was transported to hospital for medical treatment and subsequently recovered.”

The incident was investigated by the Independent Investigations Office. The Interim Chief Civilian Director considered that the officers may have committed serious offences and on that basis he submitted a report to Crown Counsel for review by the BCPS. The Interim Chief Civilian Director did not make a recommendation on whether charges should be approved.

“After reviewing the entirety of the evidence provided, the BCPS concluded that the charge assessment standard for initiating a prosecution has not been met.”

A clear statement explaining the reasons for not approving charges will be made public following the conclusion of related legal proceedings involving the suspect.