Police watchdog clears Vancouver officers who fired non-lethal rounds at 'Freedom Convoy' protesters
Ontario’s police watchdog has cleared two Vancouver police officers who fired non-lethal rounds at two protesters in Ottawa during the 'Freedom Convoy’ protests.
The officers were part of the police operation that helped clear the downtown core of the occupation, which lasted for weeks and led the federal government to invoke the Emergencies Act.
“On my assessment of the evidence, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that either officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the use of their weapons,” Special Investigations Unit director Joseph Martino said in his ruling.
The incident happened at Bank and Sparks Street on the night of Feb. 19, as police were attempting to direct the crowd south so a fence could be erected.
The shots were fired at a 36-year-old man and a 41-year-old man. The SIU interviewed both men in the following days. No serious injuries were reported.
'ATMOSPHERE WAS TENSE'
The SIU investigation lays out what led the officers to fire their non-lethal weapons.
Investigators said the frontlines had police and protesters face-to-face. The numbers of protesters were in the thousands by some estimates.
“The atmosphere was tense as the parties physically engaged and pushed back against each other. A number of arrests were made,” the report said.
The 36 and 41-year-old men climbed on top of a concrete barrier on the east side of Bank Street, near the McDonald’s. Beside them was another man -- his identity remains unknown -- who shone a flashlight in a police officers’ eyes.
One officer fired several rounds of an L140-4, a less-lethal firearm, at the man. He was struck in the face, knocked off the barrier and disappeared into the crowd.
Another round struck the two other men, who climbed down the barrier and left the area.
The second officer was armed with an ARWEN, an anti-riot weapon.
“In order to deter protesters moving towards officers, some of whom had fallen in the push forward, the officer fired his ARWEN striking one such protester in the leg. He fired his weapon a second time at another protester who had been fighting with police officers and was moving again towards the front lines,” the SIU investigation found.
SIU USED VIDEO FOOTAGE, INTERVIEWS
Five SIU investigators were assigned to the case. They used Ottawa police drone footage, city street surveillance video, and video footage from the nearby Parliamentary Services and Bank of Canada buildings.
Investigators interviewed three witness officials. The two officers under investigation declined to be interviewed, which is within their legal rights. However, one of the officers provided a written statement.
Martino said he is satisfied that the officers’ deployment of the less lethal firearms was legally justified in both cases.
The first officer’s shots were aimed at the man with the flashlight who was trying to interfere with the officers’ vision.
“Given the man’s distance from the front lines of the police, it would have been impractical and perhaps even dangerous to wade into the crowd to deal with the man directly.”
The second officer’s shots were also “commensurate with the exigencies of the moment," according to Martino's ruling.
“They were directed at the legs of two protesters who seemed on the verge of physically engaging with the officers, including officers who were on the ground at the time. In both instances, the force succeeded in deterring the protesters, presumably without the infliction of serious injury.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.