No grounds for charges against the officer
The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU), Manitoba’s police watchdog, has finished its investigation into the police shooting that happened on May 1, 2017, in a downtown skywalk.
On May 1, 2017, police encountered a 25-year-old male in the Graham Avenue skywalk, close to police HQ. The man was holding a stick with one end hidden in his armpit. The man entered an optometrist’s office and tried to hold the door shut. Officers forced their way into the office. The man pulled the stick from his armpit to reveal a pair of scissors taped to it. He pointed the sharp end towards officers. One officer fired two rounds at the man hitting him on the side.
A couple of minutes before he was shot the man had dialled 911 and the line was active when the confrontation occurred. This allowed investigators from the IIU to be able to hear what was said in the optometrist’s office prior to the shooting. The recording of the call clearly showed that the police officer commanded the man to drop his weapon 14 times before shooting the suspect.
IIU Civilian Director Zane Tessler said in his report that the subject officer “was faced with a dangerous and dynamic situation that unfolded quickly. It would be unreasonable for police to wait before acting. Any delay could have led to the death of WPS officers or other civilians within the (optometrist’s) office.”
The IIU has determined that there are no grounds for charges against the officer.
-News 4-
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