The B.C. Prosecution Service has issued a follow-up statement explaining why no charges were laid against Salmon Arm police officers during a shooting on July 3, 2015.

The non-fatal shooting occurred when a suspect fled from police following an armed robbery in Sicamous and was later shot by an officer while he was hiding behind a residence in Canoe.

In this case, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO), which investigates incidents where police officers fire a weapon, forwarded its report to the Prosecution Service to assess whether charges should be laid.

sa国际传媒淚n order to maintain confidence in the integrity of the criminal justice system, a Clear Statement explaining the reasons for not approving charges is made publicsa国际传媒�,sa国际传媒� states a media release issued May 16.

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The sa国际传媒淐lear Statementsa国际传媒� reads:

sa国际传媒淥n July 3, 2015 at 4:42 pm, Salmon Arm RCMP received a report that a male suspect had robbed a gas station in Sicamous brandishing what appeared to be a firearm. The suspect fled in a vehicle westbound on the Trans-Canada Highway (sa国际传媒淗wy 1sa国际传媒�), with one of the owners of the gas station pursuing him on a motorcycle.

sa国际传媒淔ollowing civilian reports, the RCMP attempted to set up containment using police vehicles near the intersection of Hwy 1 and Bernie Road. As the suspect drove back toward Hwy 1, he maneuvered his vehicle through the loose containment without striking any people or vehicles.

sa国际传媒淎s the suspectsa国际传媒檚 vehicle turned off Bernie Road westbound onto Hwy 1, one of the RCMP officers (sa国际传媒淪ubject Officer 1sa国际传媒�) fired a single shot at his vehicle, hitting nothing. The suspect fled westbound.

sa国际传媒淭he RCMP later located the vehicle he had been driving at a farm east of Salmon Arm. An officer (sa国际传媒淪ubject Officer 2sa国际传媒�) with a Police Service Dog (sa国际传媒淧SDsa国际传媒�) tracked the suspect to a dark storage room in the lower level of a disused barn.

sa国际传媒淭he PSD entered the room, followed by Subject Officer 2, who yelled commands to the suspect and to the PSD. At some point, the PSD seized the suspectsa国际传媒檚 thigh.

sa国际传媒淭he suspect swung a baseball bat, hitting Subject Officer 2 and Subject Officer 2sa国际传媒檚 firearm. Subject Officer 2 fired several shots, some of which struck the suspect.The suspect was treated in hospital, and survived his injuries.

sa国际传媒淎s a result of the injuries to the suspect, the IIO conducted an investigation into the actions of the officers who dealt with the suspect during the incident. At the conclusion of the investigation the IIO submitted a Report to Crown Counsel (sa国际传媒淩CCsa国际传媒�).

sa国际传媒淔ollowing a thorough review of the available evidence the BCPS has concluded that the evidence does not support approving any charges against the officers. The charge assessment was conducted by a Crown Counsel with no prior or current connection to the officers who were the subject of the IIO investigationsa国际传媒�sa国际传媒�

marthawickett@saobserver.net
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