Florence Loyie, Edmonton, AB (Edmonton Journal) – No charges will be laid against RCMP tactical team members involved in the shooting last spring of a Smoky Lake man during a domestic dispute investigation.
The decision comes after an eight-month investigation into the June 2, 2008 shooting by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.
“The use of force exercised by the RCMP officers involved was justified under section 25 of the Criminal Code,” ASIRT director Clifton Purvis said in a release Monday.
On June 1, police responded to a domestic dispute call at a farmhouse near Smoky Lake. The investigation led to an emergency protection order being issued to a family member.
A team of 23 RCMP officers from both Smoky Lake and the Edmonton Emergency Response Team went to the farmhouse for a second time on June 2 to issue the order when Colin Nixon, 36, came out of the farmhouse and approached them carrying a long-barrelled shotgun in each hand.
Members of the tactical team shot Nixon who was airlifted to the University of Alberta Hospital with wounds to his head and upper body. He was released after several days. Nixon was later charged with 20 offences, including uttering death threats, assault and criminal harassment.
The ASIRT investigation was completed and the file forwarded to the Crown for review and an opinion on whether charges were required.
“The director of ASIRT has reviewed the file and considered the opinion of the Crown counsel and has determined that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that RCMP officers committed a criminal offence in relation to the incident which caused the injuries to Colin Nixon,” the release said.
Recent Comments