No criminal charges will be laid against an RCMP officer following an Alberta Serious Incident Response Team investigation into an alleged excessive use of force during an arrest near Valleyview in 2023.
While ASIRT said its investigation found reasonable grounds to believe an offence had been committed by the subject officer, The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service did not recommend charges after reviewing the file.
ASIRT said the investigation was launched after the director of law enforcement directed the agency on Nov. 22, 2023, to investigate the officer’s actions during an Oct. 29, 2023, arrest.
According to ASIRT, police were responding to a 911 call about a vehicle allegedly travelling at high speed, cutting off another motorist and throwing rocks at a windshield. The officer later located a vehicle matching the description. ASIRT said the driver failed to stop and a pursuit followed, during which the vehicle was driven erratically and repeatedly crossed into oncoming traffic. After the vehicle stopped on a rural road, ASIRT said the officer conducted a high-risk traffic stop and repeatedly ordered the driver to show his hands and exit the vehicle. ASIRT said the officer deployed pepper spray, pointed his firearm at the driver and later brought him to the ground during a struggle.
ASIRT also identified discrepancies between the officer’s account and video evidence, including whether the officer pulled the driver from the vehicle and whether strikes were delivered while the officer was holding a flashlight.
The investigation was referred to the ACPS on Oct. 24, 2024, for an opinion on whether charges should be laid.
You can read the full report here.
