No charges for Calgary officer who fired shots at man who drove toward parade

A Calgary police officer who fired three shots at a man who started to drive toward a military parade in October 2019 won't be charged, Alberta's police watchdog has concluded.

The incident took place on Oct. 19, 2019, as a military parade was heading to the Mewata Armoury with approximately 70 participants, while Calgary police escorted and provided security, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) wrote in a report. 

The patrol included officers on mountain bikes, who would stop traffic at intersections downtown to allow the parade to pass. One officer, stationed at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Sixth Street S.W., motioned for a black Toyota Corolla to stop.

The driver of the vehicle, which ASIRT said was stolen, briefly came to a stop, the report reads. The driver then turned right and accelerated toward the military parade. 

"The [subject officer] and other officers responded with urgency, which was appropriate," the report reads.

"[The driver] stopped driving toward the parade but started driving erratically, hitting a wall and almost hitting [a witness officer]. His driving presented an immediate and serious risk to others around him."

The subject officer fired three shots at the driver, injuring him and his passenger, the report reads. 

"This use of force was proportionate, necessary and reasonable in the circumstances, and the defences available under [Section 25 and 34 of the Criminal Code] will apply to the [subject officer]," the report reads. "As a result, no charges will be laid against the [subject officer]."

Despite being shot, the driver headed north for two blocks until he collided with a van in the intersection after running a red light. He admitted to smoking methamphetamine an hour before the incident, the report reads.

Bogdan Ferdinand Diordiev of Calgary faced seven charges for the incident, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, flight from a police officer, possession of stolen property and driving an uninsured motor vehicle.

He pleaded guilty to two of his seven counts connected to the incident — dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

He was handed a 16-month conditional sentence order and two years probation. The other charges were withdrawn.

ASIRT investigates incidents where serious injury or death may have been caused by police, as well as serious allegations of police misconduct.