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The Province
3 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
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
No charges against Metro Vancouver transit cop who shot and injured 'deranged guy'
A Metro Vancouver Transit Police officer won't be charged after he shot seven rounds at a suspect during a 2022 confrontation, the B.C. Prosecution Service says. 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 follow-up investigation and no charges will be laid. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 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. 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 deployed, again to little effect, before the transit officer fired seven rounds with his gun. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The Crown considered charges of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon, but prosecutors failed to find evidence to warrant them. The statement noted 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 less-lethal force of the beanbag rounds, Taser round and contact with the police cruiser. The suspect himself admitted to investigators he was still holding a weapon and that this was 'probably the reason I got shot.' jruttle@
National Post
12-05-2025
- National Post
Bomb threats made at Vancouver airport and Waterfront Station on Sunday
Emergency services dealt with two bomb threats on Sunday, one claiming a bomb had been planted on a plane on the ground at Vancouver International Airport and the other threat directed at Vancouver's Waterfront Station. Article content Article content The first occurred at around 10:30 a.m. and was a 911 call made by an unknown person directed at Metro Vancouver Transit Police saying there was a bomb at Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver. Article content Article content Transit Police and Vancouver Police Department officers immediately cleared the station as a precaution. Article content Article content An explosives detection team that included police dogs Scout and Dex scoured Waterfront Station and surrounding businesses but didn't find anything suspicious. A VPD drone was also used in the search. Article content Shortly after noon, the station was reopened and transit service resumed. No injuries were reported. Article content Const. Amanda Steed, spokesperson for Metro Vancouver Transit Police, said there is no threat to public safety. Article content Then, at around noon, Richmond RCMP received reports of a bomb threat on a flight out of Vancouver International Airport. The reports were received through emails from an unknown sender and were received by staff at YVR and a local news agency. Article content 'The RCMP and YVR took the threat seriously and conducted a complete sweep to the affected flight, but found no credible evidence of any bomb on the plane,' said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Brett Urano. Article content 'Airport operations were minimally affected and only the flight in question was delayed. The RCMP takes threats like this seriously and believes these emails were a 'swatting' call.' Article content Article content
CBC
02-04-2025
- CBC
B.C. police misconduct allegations that have been substantiated now available in public database
Social Sharing Police misconduct allegations are now viewable to the public online. One of B.C.'s police watchdogs—the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC)—has launched the Discipline Decisions Digest, a public database that shows substantiated allegations of misconduct against police officers and corresponding disciplinary measures. "Transparency is a fundamental pillar for police accountability and enhancing public confidence in policing," said Prabhu Rajana in a statement from the OPCC. The organization defines substantiated allegations as proven allegations. It will include information from the 12 municipal police departments that fall under the OPCC's jurisdiction, as well as the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, the Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service, and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit B.C. The database does not include the names of individual officers associated with the allegations but displays which police department they belong to. The statement says the digest is intended for members of the public and media to use for informational purposes. It says it is also intended to increase consistency in disciplinary measures: it could be used by those making discipline decisions, such as police complaint commissioners or municipal police boards, to review similar allegations and corresponding discipline measures. Officers not named Jerome Igbokwe, an articling student with the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, says the database will likely help keep decisions consistent. "You don't want to arrive at a decision that is substantially different from what you've seen happen over time," he said. Igbokwe says while the digest is a step in the right direction, more still needs to be done to increase transparency. Specifically, he says the digest should attach the names of police officers to the misconduct — similar to how the names of doctors and lawyers in B.C. are publicly attached to findings of misconduct. "When you interact with a police officer who has a history of a particular misconduct, you take extra steps," said Igbokwe. "It builds on the trust that society has." He also says that including names in the database could influence future behaviour. "If you know that your name is out there, it helps you act better," he said. The OPCC said in a statement to CBC that the range of seriousness of misconduct varies widely, and naming can have significant impacts on the officer and their family. "We are of the view that the public interest is not necessarily served by routinely naming individual police officers who have committed misconduct," it said.
