No charges laid in 2018 officer-involved shooting: ASIRT

CALGARY — The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team says no charges are being laid against an officer who fired his gun during the pursuit of a truck in 2018.

On July 27, 2018, a police officer noticed a truck parked in an alley along 20 Avenue NW.

After running the vehicle’s license plate, it was evident the truck was one that had been stolen. The officer waited for HAWCS helicopter to arrive and then attempted to conduct a traffic stop.

As the officer turned on his lights, the driver of the truck, who was 23 years old at the time, took police on a chase that would see him drive on sidewalks, into oncoming traffic, and hit a pair of other vehicles.

The chase became increasingly dangerous as the driver hopped on Macleod Trail around rush hour and continued to drive into oncoming traffic and pose a threat to anyone within his vicinity.

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The tactical unit was then called in to aid in catching the suspect and they attempted to stop the truck by ramming it.

Nearly an hour after the pursuit began, the truck began driving on the sidewalk and grass along northbound Macleod Trail.

At this point, one of the tactical vehicles rammed the passenger side of the truck. As police made contact with the truck, an officer fired three shots, hitting the suspect vehicle with all three shots, but missing the suspects within the truck.

The collision between police and the suspect caused the truck’s airbags to deploy and the engine to shut off. The truck then rolled for about 75 meters before coming to a stop.

The 23-year-old man, as well as a 22-year-old woman, were both arrested. Police found a sawed-off shotgun and ammunition inside the truck.

Following an assessment of the evidence in the case, and a consideration of the Crown prosecutor’s opinion, the subject officer will not be charged in the incident.