Alberta Sheriffs Branch
ASIRT releases results of investigation into “unjustifiable use of force” by Red Deer RCMP member
News release from the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT)
IN THE MATTER OF AN INJURY INVOLVING RED DEER RCMP ON JUNE 4, 2020
Circumstances Surrounding the Incident
On June 4, 2020, witness officer #1 (WO1) attempted to stop a white Lexus GS300 in Red Deer for improper window tint at approximately 1 p.m. The affected person (AP), who was driving the Lexus and was prohibited from driving at that time, did not stop and instead drove off at high speed. WO1 did not pursue the AP but passed along the vehicle description to other officers.
Over the next 40 minutes, WO1 and other officers attempted to stop the AP. The AP left and re-entered Red Deer. At one point, a spike belt was used successfully and one of the Lexus’ rear tires was deflated. The AP continued to not stop for police and drive dangerously inside the city.
At approximately 1:50 p.m., the SO began following the AP. The SO was a K9 officer and had a police service dog with him. The AP continued from the residential area into the McKenzie Trails area, which is a park. The AP continued to drive very fast and dangerously. When the AP reached a dead end on a road, he drove through the trees onto another adjacent roadway. The SO continued to closely follow the AP to attempt intentional vehicle contact and stop the AP.
The AP then accelerated again and went off the road and into the grass briefly. He was unable to make the next turn and hit rocks along the outside of the turn. He continued off the road into light trees and passed over a pedestrian walkway with the SO following. He then hit a log, stopped, and immediately got out of the vehicle (Figure 1).
Figure 1 – SO’s vehicle video showing the AP exiting his vehicle.
The AP started to run away from the SO (Figure 2).
Figure 2 – SO’s vehicle video showing the AP running away.
The SO continued forward, turned slightly to the left, and hit the AP on the front passenger side (Figure 3).
Figure 3 – SO’s vehicle video showing the AP being hit.
The time from the AP’s first foot being on the ground to the SO striking the AP is approximately 1.5 seconds.
The AP then briefly disappears to the passenger side of the SO’s vehicle. He then runs away from the SO in the same direction. The SO released his dog and he and the dog ran after the AP.
The dog caught up to the AP first and bit the AP’s clothing. The AP and the dog went into the river. The SO and witness officer #2 (WO2) caught up to them and saw that the AP was in fast-flowing deep water. WO2 jumped into the river and brought the AP out.
The AP was then arrested.
Emergency medical services paramedics treated the AP. According to their medical records, the AP told them that he had broken his ankles when he was running from police and stepped in a hole.
Affected Person (AP)
ASIRT investigators interviewed the AP on October 15, 2020. He stated that, when the SO hit him, he flew six feet into the air and his ankles were broken from the collision.
Subject Officer (SO)
ASIRT investigators interviewed the SO on September 9, 2020. This statement consisted of a written statement and follow-up questions. The SO provided a full account of the incident, with the most relevant portions summarized below.
The SO, just prior to the AP stopping, was trying to get into position to intentionally contact the AP’s vehicle and stop him. When the AP stopped, he intended to contact the vehicle and prevent the AP from moving further. The AP then exited the vehicle and he turned to the left to avoid him. As he brought his vehicle to a stop, he unintentionally contacted the AP.
Analysis
If the SO intentionally contacted the AP with his vehicle, it would likely be an unjustifiable use of force. When a police officer contacts a person with their vehicle, the likelihood of grievous bodily harm or death is high since the person may be run over or knocked to the ground forcefully.
In this incident, however, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that the SO intentionally contacted the AP with his vehicle. The video from the SO’s vehicle shows that the time from the AP putting a foot down to the AP being hit was 1.5 seconds. During this time, the SO was turning away from the AP.
The AP’s evidence was embellished. He did not fly six feet into the air, and his claim that his broken ankles were caused by the collision are contradicted by him telling paramedics that day that he broke them stepping in a hole.
Conclusion
On June 4, 2020, the AP was driving dangerously in Red Deer. He then drove into a park to evade police and drove in a manner that risked the lives of park users. When his vehicle finally stopped, he began to run and was struck by the SO. There is insufficient evidence to conclude that the SO intended to hit him.
Given that there is insufficient evidence, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an offence was committed.
Original signed June 27, 2024
Matthew Block
Assistant Executive Director
News release from the Province of Alberta
The Alberta Sheriffs have shut down a problem property where suspected drug activity threatened nearby playgrounds and other community spaces.
The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit of the Alberta Sheriffs obtained a court order against the property owner of 5222 42 Street. The property will be closed for 90 days, beginning on Oct. 7 at noon. All individuals must vacate the premises, including the property owner.
The community safety order, obtained in the Court of King’s Bench, bars all people from the property until the closure period ends on Jan. 5, 2026, and prohibits certain individuals from accessing the property altogether, while the order is in place. The property will be boarded up, fenced and all the locks will be changed. SCAN members will continue to monitor the property for activity while their investigation remains ongoing. Community safety order conditions remain in effect until Jan. 5, 2028.
“SCAN now adds Olds to the long and growing list of Alberta communities that have benefited from its diligent investigative work. My thanks to members of the southern SCAN unit and the RCMP for the closure of another disruptive problem property that posed a risk to nearby playgrounds and the surrounding community and threatened public safety. Criminal activity has no home in our province. I encourage all Albertans to report suspicious activity where and when they see it.”
“Close collaboration with local police was essential for a successful investigation of this property and I thank the Olds RCMP for its partnership on this file. Residents are relieved to see this property close, putting an end to the illegal activities centred around it. Here and across Alberta, SCAN is dedicated to maintaining the peace and safety of neighbourhoods and communities.”
“Olds RCMP remains fully committed to building safer communities by working in partnership with our community as well as through investigative and enforcement efforts to achieve this goal. Olds RCMP would like to thank the Olds RCMP crime reduction member on conducting an excellent investigation and the Alberta Sheriffs SCAN unit for its assistance during this project.”
The Alberta Sheriffs work with other law enforcement agencies to shut down properties being used for illegal activities. The SCAN unit operates under the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, which uses legal sanctions and court orders to hold owners accountable for illegal activity happening on their property.
Since its inception in 2008, Alberta’s SCAN unit has investigated more than 10,000 properties and has issued more than 135 community safety orders. Most complaints are resolved by working with owners to stop the illegal activity on their property.
Quick facts
- Between February 2022 and May 2025, the RCMP attended the property 65 times for various types of calls for service.
- The RCMP executed three search warrants between January 2024 and April 2025, during which stolen property, illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia were recovered.
- SCAN investigators and the RCMP continued to receive complaints of suspected drug and criminal activities at the property throughout the course of their investigation and observed activity consistent with drug dealing.
Alberta
Province to expand services provided by Alberta Sheriffs: New policing option for municipalities
Expanding municipal police service options |
Proposed amendments would help ensure Alberta’s evolving public safety needs are met while also giving municipalities more options for local policing.
As first announced with the introduction of the Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, Alberta’s government is considering creating a new independent agency police service to assume the police-like duties currently performed by Alberta Sheriffs. If passed, Bill 49 would lay additional groundwork for the new police service.
Proposed amendments to the Police Act recognize the unique challenges faced by different communities and seek to empower local governments to adopt strategies that effectively respond to their specific safety concerns, enhancing overall public safety across the province.
If passed, Bill 49 would specify that the new agency would be a Crown corporation with an independent board of directors to oversee its day-to-day operations. The new agency would be operationally independent from the government, consistent with all police services in Alberta. Unlike the Alberta Sheriffs, officers in the new police service would be directly employed by the police service rather than by the government.
“With this bill, we are taking the necessary steps to address the unique public safety concerns in communities across Alberta. As we work towards creating an independent agency police service, we are providing an essential component of Alberta’s police framework for years to come. Our aim is for the new agency is to ensure that Albertans are safe in their communities and receive the best possible service when they need it most.”
Additional amendments would allow municipalities to select the new agency as their local police service once it becomes fully operational and the necessary standards, capacity and frameworks are in place. Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring the new agency works collaboratively with all police services to meet the province’s evolving public safety needs and improve law enforcement response times, particularly in rural communities. While the RCMP would remain the official provincial police service, municipalities would have a new option for their local policing needs.
Once established, the agency would strengthen Alberta’s existing policing model and complement the province’s current police services, which include the RCMP, Indigenous police services and municipal police. It would help fill gaps and ensure law enforcement resources are deployed efficiently across the province.
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