ASIRT involved after Calgary police fire on truck as driver flees traffic stop

An investigation is underway after an officer-involved shooting early Tuesday morning in northwest Calgary.

Officers had pulled over a stolen truck,near the intersection of 12 Mile Coulee Road and Blueridge Rise N.W. around 2:20 a.m.

The driver surrendered to police, while a second man got into the driver's seat and took off at a high speed, police said.

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That second man "maneuvered the vehicle in close proximity to the officers," Supt. James Hardy said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

One officer felt threatened and fired his service firearm at the fleeing truck striking it, Hardy said.

The superintendent explained when an officer is permitted to use lethal force.

"Grievous bodily harm, serious injury up to and causing death," is the threshold, Hardy said.

"If an officer feels that is what he is facing, that is when he will move to that level of force."

The man who fled the scene was later located in Cochrane and arrested.

Incident caught on policecameras

A HAWKS helicopter caught the entire incident on camera, as did a police cruiser camera.

No one was injured and the officer who discharged his weapon is on a 30-day administrative leave, Hardy said.

Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) will become involved once Calgary police complete their investigation.

Hardy said this officer-involved shooting will be compared to at least two others in recent weeks to determine if training needs to be adjusted.

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