The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has determined that a police officer’s decision to discharge his firearm during an incident near Ardmore in January 2021 was “proportionate, necessary, and reasonable.” The findings were detailed in an ASIRT report released on September 6, 2024.
The incident took place on January 22, 2021, around 9 a.m., when a civilian witness noticed an unknown truck parked inside a large equipment shelter on their property near Ardmore, approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Cold Lake. The truck was later identified as a stolen Ford F-350, with two occupants inside – a driver and a passenger.
Concerned about the unauthorized presence on their property, the civilian contacted the police at 9:29 a.m. Multiple officers responded to the call, arriving on the road outside the property. According to the ASIRT report, the officers proceeded onto the property in a column formation at 9:55 a.m.
The sequence of events began with a police dog service officer leading the approach, followed by the subject officer, a member of the Cold Lake RCMP, who ultimately discharged his weapon. The officer was in a marked police truck, and four additional officers were also on the scene.
As the officers neared the equipment shed, the driver of the stolen F-350 suddenly accelerated and began driving out of the shelter at a high speed. The ASIRT report explains that the subject officer considered the risk level to be high, based on his past experiences with stolen vehicle incidents where drivers had been armed or had attempted to ram police vehicles.
Despite there being sufficient space to maneuver around the officers, the driver accelerated directly toward the subject officer, leading the officer to believe that the driver was trying to “harm or kill him.” The officer also perceived a threat to the safety of his colleagues. Acting on this perceived threat, he drew his handgun and fired a single shot at the driver.
The ASIRT report concluded that the RCMP officers “responded in a measured and safe way, using appropriate resources and planning.” It further stated that the officers were “required or authorized by law to investigate, and they did so reasonably.”
The report highlighted the potential danger posed by the stolen F-350, described as a “large and heavy vehicle capable of causing serious injury even when a person is inside another vehicle.” It found that the officer’s response with a single shot, intended to cause death or grievous bodily harm, was proportionate to the threat posed.
ASIRT’s investigation found no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer had committed any offense. The use of force was deemed necessary, and the officer’s actions were considered appropriate given the rapidly unfolding situation.
The report also noted that the passenger in the stolen vehicle refused to cooperate with ASIRT investigators.
