On that date, at approximately 12:56 a.m., CPS responded to a call on the non-emergency line from a hotel in south Calgary asking for assistance in removing an unwanted person from the lobby.
A lone officer (officer 1) was first to arrive and entered the lobby to find the man standing near the check-in desk. The interaction between the male and the officer was captured on body-worn camera. The male is standing with his hands in full view and does not possess any weapons. The officer orders the male to leave the lobby by issuing commands such as “out” and “walk out.” The male continues to stand at his location in the lobby and act in a confused fashion, such as attempting to pick up items off the floor that were clearly non-existent.
After approximately 30 seconds of speaking with the male, the officer points his conducted energy weapon (CEW) at the male and orders the male to leave the lobby. The male raises his hands and confirms he’ll leave and asks the officer not to shoot him. The male then begins to leave the lobby with the officer still pointing the weapon at him. The male is walking slowly towards the main door with his hands raised while stating to the officer, ”I don’t want to die.” The lone officer tells the male to stop talking and continues to point the weapon at him.
Two other officers (officers 2 and 3) with CPS arrive on scene and begin walking through the main doors towards the male. At this point, the male stops walking but continues to state that he doesn’t want to die. Officer 1 then holsters his CEW and attempts to grab the male. At no point during the interaction had the male been identified, nor was he ever told he was being detained or under arrest. The male physically resists being grabbed and then is tackled by officer 2, who then punches the male in the head while both are on the ground.
During this time, officers 1 and 3 deploy their CEWs. Over the next approximately 3 1/2 minutes, the three officers and the male are involved in a physical altercation with various uses of force resorted to by the officers. Once the male is detained on the floor, handcuffs and leg restraints are applied.
Numerous other CPS officers arrive on scene to assist. The male is noted to be bleeding from the mouth and vomits. A spit mask is applied while the male is lying face down on the floor. EMS attend and administer a sedative to the male via needle approximately 7 minutes after the male has been handcuffed. This is administered to the male while he is still lying face down. The male is then left face down in handcuffs, leg restraints and a spit mask for about another three minutes until it is noted that he is unresponsive. The male was then provided medical care but declared deceased at the scene.
ASIRT’s investigation will examine the use of force by the officers. No additional information will be released.
ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.
This release is distributed by the Government of Alberta on behalf of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.