The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has been directed to investigate the actions of a Grande Prairie RCMP officer after shots were fired during a standoff in the County of Grande Prairie on Jan. 12.
At about 6 a.m. rural RCMP and a member of the Alberta RCMP Emergency Response Team attended a rural property on the 9700 block of 42 Avenue to execute a search warrant. Police believed the suspect was armed and dangerous.
Over a 12-hour period, the suspect allegedly barricaded himself in the building. RCMP negotiators made numerous attempts to communicate with him, and other intervention strategies were used.
Police said the suspect fired at officers during the standoff and an officer discharged his service weapon in response. Neither the officer nor the suspect was injured by gunfire.
At about 6:30 p.m., officers arrested the suspect and located a loaded handgun in his waistband. He was taken to hospital with non-firearm related injuries sustained during the incident.
A 44-year-old man has been charged with forcible confinement, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer with a weapon, discharging a firearm with intent and three weapons offences.
ASIRT was directed to investigate because of the injuries sustained as a result of police action. An internal RCMP review is also underway to examine training, policy and the response
