ASIRT investigating RCMP chase, shooting in northern Alta. that 1 man, police dog dead
The police watchdog in Alberta is investigating an incident that left both a man and police dog dead after RCMP attempted a traffic stop last week.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) said in a release on Monday that they are investigating the incident that took place near High Prairie, Alta. last Thursday.
RCMP conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was associated with 29-year-old Lionel Ernest Grey, from High Prairie, who had outstanding criminal warrants on Thursday at around 10:57 p.m.
Grey, driving a red Cadillac, fled from police but got stuck in the mud, ASIRT said.
According to the police watchdog, two RCMP officers located the vehicle unoccupied and found a bag containing three different types of ammunition and identification belonging to Grey.
RCMP brought in a police dog to help establish a track to locate the man who was heading east into a wooded area in Winagami Provincial Park, ASIRT said.
The police watchdog said officers tracked the suspect for about two hours when they eventually encountered Grey.
“The man and police exchanged gunfire,” ASIRT said. “During this incident, the police service dog was struck by gunfire and killed.”
RCMP directed the police members to stand down until the Emergency Response Team (ERT) could arrive to assist.
ASIRT said ERT members arrived and encountered the man again.
“During this encounter, several police officers discharged their firearms,” ASIRT added. “At the time, the officers believed the man had been struck.”
The 29-year-old managed to evade police who continued to conduct searches of the area.
According to ASIRT, two RCMP officers who were assigned to maintain a perimeter around the area Grey had last been seen within spotted him in a ditch.
“The officers exited their marked police vehicle and a confrontation occurred between the man and the police officers, during which both officers discharged their service firearms,” ASIRT said.
ASIRT says Grey died after this incident despite medical officers attempting to treat him.
A .22-calibre rifle with a range finder were recovered by police from the scene.
The investigation into the incident continues.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.