The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is looking for witnesses to an officer-involved shooting west of Whitecourt. A 31 year old man was found dead after a confrontation with RCMP on July 3rd.
ASIRT says police were looking for a vehicle involved in a July 2nd incident in Valhalla when they found it parked at the Chickadee Creek rest stop around noon Tuesday. A man was inside and appeared to be asleep in the reclined driver’s seat.
There was reportedly a confrontation as officers approached the vehicle, and they fired their guns. The man was hit and sustained significant injuries.
Just before 1:45 p.m. on the 3rd, RCMP issued a press release saying they had contained an area around the rest stop as they looked for a suspect who had fled from them. They reported a large police presence “to ensure public safety” and the highway was closed northbound for several hours.
ASIRT says the RCMP’s Emergency Response Team was called in and determined the man sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. It independently investigates incidents involving Alberta police that result in serious injury or death and is hoping the public can help.
In particular, investigators are looking to speak to the people that were in a dark-coloured Ford Escape and a larger work or commercial type vehicle. They’d also like to hear from anyone who may have been at the Chickadee Creek rest stop around noon on July 3rd. The number to call is 780-644-1483.