Newfoundland and Labrador’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT-NL) has concluded that the RCMP officer who fired shots at a fleeing vehicle in May did not use excessive force. The investigation, initiated on May 12 following an armed robbery incident in Dunville, involved a vehicle pursuit on Salmonier Line, resulting in the arrest of three individuals without any injuries.
Despite the deployment of police roadblocks and spike belts, which proved ineffective in stopping the vehicle, the officer discharged three rounds towards the vehicle’s radiator area to disable it. Director Stephen Ring, in a report released on Aug. 21, stated that the use of the firearm was deemed justified and not excessive under the circumstances.
While RCMP policy generally discourages the use of firearms to disable vehicles, Ring highlighted that such force is permissible when there is a threat of imminent harm to individuals. The report indicated that the ongoing pursuit posed a risk of death to both law enforcement and the public, especially after non-lethal measures failed to halt the vehicle.
Additionally, the report mentioned that a passenger exited the vehicle near the spike belt area, and the vehicle made contact with a police vehicle. Despite sustaining tire damage from the spike belt, the vehicle proceeded through the final roadblock. As a result of these findings, SIRT will be closing the investigation, absolving the officer of any misconduct.
SIRT-NL specializes in investigating serious incidents involving injuries, fatalities, sexual offenses, domestic violence, or incidents of significant public concern related to police actions in Newfoundland and Labrador.