RCMP Officer Cleared in Shooting

The province's independent Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) released a report today in relation to an officer involved shooting on Hwy 101 near Berwick, Nova Scotia on December 11, 2018.

While conducting a traffic stop on Hwy. 101 for a motor vehicle offence, an officer with the Kings District RCMP detected an odour of alcohol coming from the vehicle. Suspecting the driver might be impaired, the officer asked the male driver to accompany him back to the police vehicle; the driver complied.

While walking back to the police vehicle, the officer noticed the male was acting peculiar. When the officer told the male he needed to search him before placing him in the police vehicle, the male became uncooperative and an interaction between the officer and the male occurred. As the officer moved forward to arrest the male, he noticed the barrel of a firearm in the male’s hand. The officer reached for his service pistol and discharged his weapon. The male driver fled the scene on foot into nearby woods.

When the male suspect was found by officers a short-time later, it appeared that the male had sustained a non-life-threatening injury to his hand. He was transported to hospital and treated for his wound.

The suspect’s firearm was discovered by officers after a six day long thorough search of the wooded area where he travelled to.

Section 25(4)(d) of the Criminal Code of Canada provides for a peace officer to use force if the peace officer using the force believes on reasonable grounds that the force is necessary for the purpose of protecting the peace officer or any other person from imminent or future death or grievous bodily harm.

The SiRT investigation found the use of force exercised by the officer was reasonable and justified in the circumstances. Therefore, there are no grounds to consider any charges against the police officer. 

A complete copy of the report is available at http://sirt.novascotia.ca.

SIRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia. Investigations are under the direction and control of independent civilian director Felix Cacchione, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid after the conclusion of an investigation.

Media Contact:

Felix Cacchione

Director

902-718-9707