RCMP acted in self-defence when they shot a man near Dawson City last year, according to an investigation by a police watchdog.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team was assigned to the case the day after the incident occurred.
Investigator Ernie Schreiber announced their findings at a press conference Thursday.
Dawson police attempted to apprehend Mark McDiarmid, 32 at the time, on Oct. 20, 2011. He was wanted on several outstanding warrants as well as new charges resulting from an incident the day before.
Police found him at a rural property about 50 kilometres from Dawson, said Schreiber.
When McDiarmid got in his car and began to drive towards the Dempster Highway, police put a spike belt over the road.
McDiarmid drove over the barrier and stopped about 300 metres further down the highway.
He then “approached the RCMP armed with a large axe,” according to a press release.
The two police officers drew their guns and shot him twice near the right hip and once near the left shoulder.
McDiarmid received emergency first aid on the scene and was transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
He was later moved to the Whitehorse Correctional Centre, where he currently awaits trial on numerous charges, including two counts of assaulting a police officer with a weapon and two counts of attempted murder of a police officer.
Investigators could not share any further details of the incident or investigation in order to ensure that McDiarmid receives a fair trial, said Schreiber.
Investigators will be open to further questions after the matter has gone through the courts, he added.