On Feb. 10, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) was directed to investigate a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer’s discharge of his firearm during an encounter with a 39-year-old man that day.
At about 9:35 a.m., RCMP received reports of an agitated male waving a handgun in the air approaching the Ponoka RCMP detachment. The man was then seen near the provincial courthouse. Video footage subsequently viewed by investigators showed that the male was holding an object in his hand.
Officers arrived at the provincial courthouse and located the man. A confrontation between the man and officers resulted in one officer discharging his firearm and striking the male at 9:42 a.m.. Officers on scene provided first aid to the man until emergency medical services attended. The man was airlifted to hospital where he remains with critical injuries. Investigators found an imitation firearm at the scene.
ASIRT’s investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the use of force. No additional information will be released.
As part of its ongoing investigation, ASIRT is continuing efforts to identify people who may have witnessed aspects of the confrontation between the man and police. ASIRT is asking anyone who may have been in the area and may have witnessed these events and/or may have video to contact investigators at 403-592-4306.
ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.
READ MORE: Ponoka RCMP confront armed suspect near courthouse