IIO says Mountie who shot theft suspect in Salmon Arm didn’t do anything wrong

Feb 19, 2018 | 11:47 AM

SALMON ARM, B.C. — BC’s police watchdog has cleared a Salmon Arm RCMP officer of wrongdoing after he shot a theft suspect who he believed was attempting to run over a fellow officer.

22 year old Kaymen Winter was seriously injured on January 30, 2017 outside Xcalibur Kawasaki and Carwash.

Three officers had arrived at the carwash just after midnight, responding to a 911 report that someone was breaking into a coin box at the carwash.

The officers positioned their vehicles to prevent the suspect, Winter, from leaving in his truck, which was inside one of the wash bays.

According to the Independent Investigations Office (IIO), Winter drove toward one of the officers, who was outside of his cruiser.

Winter, who had outstanding warrants for his arrest at the time, later told the IIO he did not see the officer in front of him, and had intended to drive past a police vehicle that was blocking his truck’s path.

As the truck moved toward the Mountie, a second responding officer shot 14 rounds at Winter from his carbine rifle, leaving Winter with multiple gunshot wounds, including to his head.

He was rushed to hospital and survived his injuries.

The officer who fired the rifle declined to provide a statement or his notes to the IIO, and is within his rights to withhold them.

According to the IIO’s investigation, including interviews with witnesses, the Mountie could have reasonably believed his fellow officer was in great danger when he fired his weapon.

As a result, the IIO says it will not refer the case to the Crown for consideration of charges.