ASIRT Concludes Officer Acted Lawfully in 2021 Ardmore Shooting

An investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) into a 2021 police shooting has concluded that the officer involved acted within the law. The incident, which took place near Ardmore, involved an armed suspect who posed a significant threat. The ASIRT report details that the suspect ignored repeated commands to drop his weapon, leading the officer to fire in self-defense. The decision supports that using force was justified under the circumstances, ensuring public and officer safety.

Background on the Incident: On June 20, 2021, Cold Lake RCMP responded to a report of a dispute in a vehicle near Ardmore. The suspect was tracked to a fenced oil company compound. During the confrontation, the suspect stabbed a Police Service Dog, leading an RCMP officer to discharge his firearm and fatally striking the suspect. The initial investigation by the RCMP and ASIRT’s thorough review both concluded that the use of force was justified under the circumstances to protect public and officer safety.

Civilian witnesses provided critical insights into the incident. According to their statements, the suspect exhibited aggressive and threatening behavior, brandishing a weapon and refusing to comply with the officer’s commands. Witnesses confirmed that the officer repeatedly ordered the suspect to drop the weapon before resorting to lethal force. Their testimonies corroborated the sequence of events as detailed in the ASIRT report, reinforcing the justification for the officer’s actions.

During the incident, a Police Service Dog (PDS) assisted in locating and apprehending the perpetrator, at which time the PDS had a grip on the perpetrator with the dog’s mouth. It was overheard, “That’s the beauty of Meth, I don’t feel pain.” At some point during his resistance, the perpetrator had stabbed the PSD. The dog suffered from two knife wounds, one stab to the jaw that hit a vein, and the other was a slice wound of the head.

At autopsy, the man was found to have died from a single contact gunshot wound. The bullet entered the right shoulder but traveled through the chest, resulting in traumatic injuries and death. Toxicology showed a significantly elevated level of methamphetamine in the man’s blood.

No RCMP members were injured during the confrontation, but the Police Service Dog sustained several stab wounds.

ASIRT investigators attended the scene of the shooting and found the following: ASIRT seized a single 9mm casing and a bloody folding knife from the bushes. Several discarded items relating to the medical care of AP were also located in the bushes.

After a thorough, independent, and objective investigation into the conduct of the Subject Officers, it is my opinion that they were lawfully placed and acting properly in the execution of their duties. There is no evidence to support any belief that either officer engaged in any unlawful or unreasonable conduct that would give rise to an offence. The force used was proportionate, necessary, and reasonable in all the circumstances. As a result, there are no grounds to believe that an offence was committed. – Michael Ewenson Executive Director ASIRT

For more context on the initial investigation, read more on Lakeland Connect here.