RCMP Watch

Dirk Meissner, Williams Lake, B.C. (Canadian Press) - Jurors at a B.C. coroner’s inquest into an RCMP shooting death say all officers should be trained in the use of tasers.

American Donald Lewis died of a gunshot wound in August of 2006 near McLeese Lake, B.C., in an altercation with an RCMP officer.

Constable Cole Brewer told the inquest he shot Mr. Lewis during a violent struggle after the man fled arrest.

Mr. Lewis was found handcuffed to a tree in the forest, where Constable Brewer testified he had to leave him, still struggling, as he ran to find a radio signal and get help.

After several hours of deliberations, the coroner’s jury came back with six recommendations, including an amendment to rules to allow a second RCMP officer to check on fellow officers out on a call and the use of audio recorders on calls.

They also say RCMP vehicles heading to questionable territory should be equipped with radio repeaters.

A surprise witness was the last to take the stand yesterday at the coroner’s inquest.

Dan Henderson asked to be added to the witness list, telling the B.C. Coroner’s service he believed he had vital information about Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Henderson told the coroner’s jury that he had numerous dealings with Mr. Lewis about a year before his death and he wanted the jury to know Mr. Lewis had an anger problem.

The inquest, which started last week, has heard from Mr. Lewis’s Canadian wife, Sarah Lewis, that he was a gentle man who was frustrated with authorities over his failed attempts to gain legal status in Canada.

“He told me he was angry at the world because he wasn’t where he wanted to be with life,” said Mr. Henderson, who drove from his home in nearby Lac la Hache in the hope he could testify.

Mr. Henderson said he offered Mr. Lewis dinner on several occasions, filled up his vehicle’s gas tank and helped him fix a flat tire.

When the tire was flat, Mr. Henderson said an angry Mr. Lewis kicked a dent into the rear of his truck.

“He did have some anger issues,” Mr. Henderson said. “He did use coarse language. He exhibited anger towards inanimate objects.”

Mr. Henderson said Mr. Lewis told him he had martial-arts experience and his training taught him to go for a person’s eyes in a fight.

Mr. Henderson’s unscheduled appearance at the inquest caused concern for at least one person who watched the proceedings.

Outside of the inquest, Linda Bush, the mother of Ian Bush, the 22-year-old Houston, B.C., man who was shot in the head and died after a struggle with an RCMP officer, said Mr. Henderson’s testimony revealed weaknesses in the inquest process.

A lawyer representing the Lewis family was able to attend the inquest for only part of last week’s proceedings and wasn’t there yesterday to examine Mr. Henderson’s background and reasons for coming forward, she said.

“The surprise witness, I’m sure had the family lawyer been there, he would have perhaps even objected to the witness and would certainly have had some pointed questions for him,” Ms. Bush said.

“The process, in my opinion, breaks down somewhat when there isn’t someone there speaking for the family and for the person who has died.”

She said lawyers should be provided for families at inquests.

Ian Bush died in October of 2005 after being arrested outside the Houston ice arena for holding an open bottle of beer. He was shot during a struggle with an RCMP officer at the Houston detachment.

At the inquest into Mr. Bush’s death, Constable Paul Koester testified he was in a life-and-death struggle with Mr. Bush and was forced to use his revolver to save his own life.

Also attending the Lewis inquest was Delores Young, whose son, Kevin St. Arnaud, was shot in December of 2004 while being chased by Mounties in Vanderhoof, located about 600 kilometres west of Prince George, B.C. Mr. Arnaud was 29.

The RCMP officer involved in the shooting was cleared of wrongdoing. Mr. Arnaud was not armed.

The RCMP officer who headed the investigation into the Lewis shooting told the inquest earlier yesterday that Mr. Lewis’s mother told him he was getting frustrated with police and Canadian immigration authorities in the weeks before his death. The inquest heard from 21 witnesses.