No charges after man, hit with police Taser, breaks leg slipping on ice
The province's police oversight agency says no charges are warranted against Winnipeg officers in a December incident in which a man fell on ice and broke his leg after police used a Taser on him.
The Winnipeg Police Service notified the Independent Investigation Unit of the incident on Dec. 20 last year.
City police said officers were called at about 2:40 a.m. on Dec. 19 about an intoxicated man armed with a knife trying to stab someone around the 400 block of Furby Street. Police found him brandishing the weapon and instead of dropping it as told, he walked toward them, the IIU said. An officer then used the Taser.
The man was taken to hospital, where doctors found he had two broken bones in his right leg.
The IIU said Friday no charges would be laid against any police, after conducting a number of interviews with witnesses and the man whose leg was broken.
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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
No charges after man, hit with police Taser, breaks leg slipping on ice
The province's police oversight agency says no charges are warranted against Winnipeg officers in a December incident in which a man fell on ice and broke his leg after police used a Taser on him. The Winnipeg Police Service notified the Independent Investigation Unit of the incident on Dec. 20 last year. City police said officers were called at about 2:40 a.m. on Dec. 19 about an intoxicated man armed with a knife trying to stab someone around the 400 block of Furby Street. Police found him brandishing the weapon and instead of dropping it as told, he walked toward them, the IIU said. An officer then used the Taser. The man was taken to hospital, where doctors found he had two broken bones in his right leg. The IIU said Friday no charges would be laid against any police, after conducting a number of interviews with witnesses and the man whose leg was broken.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Collective effort' to protect evacuees
Proactive measures taken by law enforcement and others will help keep vulnerable wildfire evacuees safe while far from home, the grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak said Thursday. 'This initiative will address a lot of the concerns our leadership have — drug trafficking, human trafficking and sexual violence on our women, these are our utmost concerns,' said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee. 'This is a collaborative effort to protect our people, and it takes a collaborative effort to be able to do what we need to do.' Settee made the comments at a Winnipeg Police Service news conference, jointly held with RCMP, where officials discussed what they're doing to ensure evacuees are protected. 'It's all about keeping our people safe,' said Settee. 'We will do it together — we must do it together.' At least 14,000 evacuees, many from northern First Nations, have fled to Winnipeg as wildfires threatened their home communities and the province declared a state of emergency. During past evacuations due to natural disasters, Settee said, First Nations leaders have seen exploitation and predatory behaviour. 'We've heard stories, in previous evacuations, that there are people going around trying to find people to sell drugs to and also trying to apprehend young women,' said Settee. 'This is a proactive approach. Winnipeg police community engagement Supt. Bonnie Emerson said measures include police liaison teams going to shelters and hotels daily to have conversations with evacuees and service providers, planning safety forums at the sites, and setting up a phone number for evacuees to call. Provincial officials understand there can be 'risks and challenges' in congregate shelters, Natural Resources Minister Lisa Naylor said at a briefing at the legislature Thursday. She said the province has partnered with the Downtown Community Safety Partnership to increase patrols downtown and is working with the Red Response Team on 'proactive intervention, de-escalation and social supports.' 'These are cultural advisers who go to the sites where the evacuees are staying and provide cultural activities for children and youth,' Naylor added. The minister said the province is working with MKO to bring in First Nation safety officers to provide support. Indigenous security companies have mobilized to assist, said Settee. The grand chief also hopes for increased resources to support the mental and emotional well-being of evacuees. The city police service stood up its emergency response operations centre and has put more cruiser cars out on the road in case of an uptick in calls for service, said WPS Insp. John Lutz, a major incident response team commander. There hasn't been a big jump in emergency calls to date, said Lutz, adding officers have dispatched to about 70 calls for service at shelters and hotels since last week. Police would not reveal further details of those calls for service, but Emerson said she's not aware of any charges being laid to date in connection with incidents at evacuee centres. City police have also logged about 167 'proactive engagements' in the area of shelters, which has included keeping an eye on parking lots and conducting traffic enforcement. Elsewhere in the province, Mounties have deployed extra officers in communities in its jurisdiction where evacuees have fled to, said RCMP Insp. Catherine Light. Those Mounties have been conducting walkthroughs of evacuation centres and hotels, doing extra patrols, and speaking with evacuees about their concerns, said Light. 'We're all here to help… don't be afraid to speak up,' said Light. — with files from Chris Kitching Erik PinderaReporter Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik. Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
The Province
2 days ago
- The Province
No charges against Metro Vancouver transit cop who shot and injured 'deranged guy'
The officer fired seven shots after beanbag rounds, a Taser and being hit by a slow-moving police car failed to faze the suspect File photo of a Metro Vancouver Transit Police officer. Photo by Gerry Kahrmann / PNG A Metro Vancouver Transit Police officer won't be charged after he fired seven rounds at a suspect during a 2022 confrontation, the B.C. Prosecution Service says. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The non-fatal shooting on Nov. 28 of that year was investigated by the Independent Investigations Office of B.C., and the chief civilian director ruled that there were reasonable grounds to think the officer might have committed an offence. But prosecutors decided there is 'no substantial likelihood of conviction' after a followup investigation, and no charges will be laid. A detailed explanation of the incident released Thursday outlined the reasons for the decision. On that night, a couple called 911 reporting a 'deranged guy' carrying a knife in Gastown who they'd seen punch someone. Other callers said the same man attacked people outside a bar on Abbott Street and that he took off with a broken pool cue in hand as a bar staffer chased him with the other half. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Two transit cops heard from Vancouver police that he was walking west on West Cordova Street. It was reported to be a knife or a sword but turned out to be the broken pool cue. VPD officers told the man to drop the weapon and shot him five times with a beanbag gun after he failed to comply. 'These rounds had no apparent effect on the (man's) behaviour,' according to the officers. As they tried to block him with a police car, he stumbled briefly then continued to advance on the officers, weapon still in hand. Another round from the beanbag gun and a Taser were fire, again to little effect, before the transit officer fired seven rounds with his handgun. The man was taken to hospital with serious injuries. B.C. prosecutors considered charges of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon, but prosecutors failed to find evidence to warrant them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The statement said police are 'justified in doing what (they are) required or authorized to do and in using as much force as necessary for that purpose,' as long as officers believe there is an imminent threat to them or those they are trying to protect. There is some leeway in the case of an officer in a dangerous, dynamic situation, but the use of force must not be unreasonable or excessive. Given the evidence, the prosecution service said a trial would 'likely conclude that reasonable grounds existed for the officers to believe the (man) posed an imminent risk to anyone he might encounter' and that use of force was needed to prevent any further violence. Though seven shots were fired, prosecutors determined a court 'would likely conclude that the officer's perception that the man posed a risk of death or grievous bodily harm was both subjectively and objectively reasonable.' Video evidence supports the witness evidence that the man was unfazed by the beanbag rounds, Taser round and contact with the police cruiser. The suspect later admitted to investigators he was still holding a weapon and that this was 'probably the reason I got shot.' jruttle@ Read More
