Alberta’s police watchdog has launched an investigation after a Whitehorse RCMP officer fired their service weapon during an incident in Porter Creek on March 2.
According to a March 3 press release from the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), Whitehorse RCMP officers responded to a call around noon about a man armed with a firearm.
The Yukon and Alberta governments have an agreement in place for ASIRT to investigate “serious incidents,” including the discharge of police officers’ weapons and alleged injuries sustained during arrests, for example, involving Yukon RCMP.
“Once on scene, police located a man in a Ford truck in front of a residence,” the ASIRT press release says. “A confrontation occurred and a single shot was discharged from an officer’s service weapon.”
The man, 54, was the lone occupant of the truck and was not injured. Police arrested him shortly afterwards and later recovered a .44-calibre rifle from the truck.
Neither any police officers nor civilians were injured in the incident.
Investigators were still on scene on Pine Street near 12th Avenue the afternoon of March 3, with a portion of Pine Street closed to traffic both ways.
ASIRT is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has photos or videos of it to call investigators at 403-592-4306.
Meanwhile, Yukon RCMP is continuing to investigate the circumstances that lead to the original call for service.
Contact Jackie Hong at jackie.hong@yukon-news.com