ASIRT clears Calgary officer in August shooting in Montgomery park

Alberta's police watchdog has closed its investigation on a police shooting this summer, finding the officer's use of force in the incident was appropriate.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) released its full report from executive director Michael Ewenson on Tuesday. The report found that the officer was entitled to make a judgment call about the appropriate use of force, which included using her firearm. 

Calgary police responded to reports of an attempted robbery at an Ace Liquor Discounter in a Montgomery shopping plaza at around 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 18. Police located the suspect a short distance away from the liquor store, in a park called Montgomery Town Square. 

ASIRT noted the man was holding a knife as police approached.

The report stated the suspect was commanded to drop the knife, and they informed him he was under arrest, The suspect walked directly at the officers, ignoring their commands, ASIRT said.

An officer then shot at the man twice, with one shot hitting him in the leg, the report said. He was provided first aid by officers and taken to a hospital by EMS.

Because the suspect was closing the distance between himself and the officers, ASIRT found he created a situation where the officer was entitled to defend herself and her partner.

The report said the investigation was greatly informed by footage from officers' body-worn cameras at the scene, and by an account from the suspect, who ASIRT said co-operated after he was discharged from hospital.

It added that officers failing to use non-lethal force, like a stun gun, wasn't problematic because if they had tried, they may not have had time to transition to their firearms, while the suspect approached them with a knife.

The report added the suspect asked officers to shoot him, to which the officer at first responded no, before the suspect continued to approach. ASIRT's report stated that the suspect later told police he was planning to continue walking toward officers until they fired their guns, and that his intention was to commit "suicide by cop."

ASIRT, a provincial agency, investigates incidents where death or serious injury may have been caused by police. It also investigates serious allegations of police misconduct.