Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week's list inclu...
Saskatchewan’s Serious Incident Response Team, a provincial agency designed to provide police oversight in cases when a serious injury or death occurs, is investigating after a Saskatoon police officer allegedly shot and injured a man on Friday.
According to the watchdog agency, the case began when police were informed of a 25-year-old man with “mental health concerns” who had allegedly made threats “to cause death or bodily harm.” The agency did not say if the alleged threats were directed towards himself or another person.
Read more:
- Man shot by Saskatoon police during search of Sutherland home
- Mountie facing breach of trust charge after man dies following wellness check request
- Saskatoon cop facing assault charge after SIRT investigation
Police were dispatched to a home on the 1500 block of Rayner Avenue, in the city’s Sutherland neighbourhood, which they surrounded “and attempted to interact with the man,” the Serious Incident Response Team said.
The man allegedly refused to leave the home, and the watchdog agency said more officers and the police SWAT team were called to the house.
“At approximately 11:41 p.m., the man partially emerged from the residence and a confrontation took place, during which one member of (the SWAT team) discharged several rounds from his service firearm, striking the man,” the Serious Incident Response Team said in a statement.
“Despite being struck, the man remained in the residence and refused to exit.”
The watchdog agency did not describe the alleged confrontation or say if the man was armed or behaving in a threatening manner when he was shot. The watchdog also did not say whether the man’s injuries might have prevented him from leaving the home as ordered.
According to the Serious Incident Response Team, police did not enter the home for more than two hours after shooting the man. No indication was given about what, if any, action police took during that time.
“At approximately 1:58 a.m., (Saskatoon police) entered the residence and at approximately 2:09 a.m., the man was taken into custody,” the agency said.
“During the process of taking the man into custody, several less-lethal devices were deployed.”
After the man’s arrest, the Serious Incident Response Team said officers and paramedics provided first aid. The man was taken to a local hospital “where he remains in stable condition.”
The team said it will examine the conduct of the officers involved in the shooting and the circumstances around the arrest.
“No further information will be released at this time,” the team noted. “A final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation ending.”
