On June 8, 2016, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) was directed by the Director of Law Enforcement to investigate the circumstances surrounding an incident near Spirit River that resulted in an officer discharging his police service firearm.
On the same date at approximately 3:15 p.m., an RCMP officer investigating a complaint of a possible impaired driver located the suspect vehicle travelling southbound on Range Road 61. The adult male driver arrived at a dead end, turned the pickup around, and then drove toward the police vehicle colliding with it. An incident occurred that resulted in the police officer discharging his police service weapon. The adult male fled the scene and was later arrested without injury.
ASIRT is on scene and will continue to investigate. ASIRT will focus its investigation on the circumstances surrounding the discharge of the police service weapon. The RCMP will continue to investigate the actions of the driver.
As this matter is in its early stages, no further information will be released at this time.
ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently, and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.