Alberta’s police watchdog announced Thursday a Calgary police officer has been cleared of wrongdoing in a shooting at an anti-racism rally that left a 30-year-old man confined to a wheelchair.
Morgan Thompson, who is paralyzed from the waist down, said he wasn’t very surprised by the findings of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT).
“I mean he felt threatened—we both felt threatened—and I should’ve just surrendered peacefully, but that’s not how I do things,” Thompson said.
“He had a better weapon than me, so here I am.”
Charges against Thompson in the March 2015 incident were eventually dropped.
Watch below: ASIRT finds that officer was justified in using firearm in March 2015
ASIRT described the incident as follows: a planned anti-racism rally was held at Calgary City Hall March 21 with 20 to 25 people in attendance. Officers saw Thompson approach protesters, yelling “white power” and “escalating tensions.”
Thompson gave the protesters the finger, clenched his fists above his head and became agitated and angry when people laughed at him in response. While Thompson made no actual threats, he “had words” with some of the protesters, ASIRT said.
Two Calgary police officers were directed to speak to the man, who they believed to be a counter-protester. As they approached, Thompson continued to yell and was observed by a third officer to have spat on the sidewalk, “a potential bylaw offence.”
Officers then tried to identify Thompson because of the bylaw infraction, but as they approached, he crossed two roads against red hand pedestrian traffic signals and began to run. At that time, his description was broadcast over the police radio, alerting other officers he’d “committed traffic and bylaw offences.”
An officer responding to the rally heard the broadcast and pulled over to block Thompson’s path, then followed him on foot when he changed course into an alley.
READ MORE: Witnesses asked to come forward after police shooting in downtown Calgary
Two clear CCTV recordings and a number of civilian witnesses captured what happened in the alley: Thompson stopped running and turned towards the officer who was still running towards him, ASIRT said.
Watch below: ‘The situation escalated,’ says ASIRT executive director on March 2015 shooting
Thompson raised his arms on either side of his body and the officer slowed to a walk, approaching Thompson and putting a hand on his shoulder. Thompson then punched the officer in the head, spurring the police officer to strike Thompson’s wrist with his baton.
“As the officer again raised the baton, the man reached with his right hand behind his back on his right side and produced a long silver object that looked like a pipe,” ASIRT said. “The officer dropped his baton and drew his service pistol, pointing it at the man.”
Thompson raised his weapon and was shot as he threw the pipe at the officer.
“The evidence clearly establishes that the officer discharged his firearm four times, with two of the shots striking the man, with the shots commencing when the man’s weapon was raised,” ASIRT said. “All four shots were fired within 1.1 seconds.”
Thompson underwent emergency surgery. One bullet became lodged in his spine, resulting in permanent disability and confinement to a wheelchair.
“I feel like I’m dead already,” he said Thursday.
“I’m 30 years old but I’m dead.
“Because I can’t have children normally…or would I even want them? Just everything now. It’s all different. It’s hard.”
READ MORE: Calgary man shot by police speaks out – ‘This is worse than a life sentence’
“The message would be in this case, when you are stopped, don’t punch the police officer,” Hughson said. “That’s the first thing that happened that escalates this.”
ASIRT found the officer then properly moved to the baton, but when the man brandished the pipe and threw it at him, the officer’s firing of his gun was “reasonable notwithstanding the tragic consequences.”
“I can tell you though, it was not unreasonable to follow him and attempt to identify him… So that is the starting point for where my assessment begins. They were in the lawful execution of their duties.”
Hughson also noted in the past there have been serious criminal acts arising from similar rallies and police, believing Thompson was a counter-protester, were within their authority to approach and identify him.
Watch below: ASIRT responds to recent rash of Calgary officer-involved shootings
Calgary police released a statement in response to ASIRT’s report, saying the standard internal administrative review of the incident will take place, but there’s no evidence to suggest the officer breached policy. He is not facing any internal discipline.
“The man involved in this incident will not be charged,” CPS said in its statement. “In consultation with the Crown, it has been deemed not to be in the public’s interest.”
A request for more details from the Crown was not immediately answered.
Police declined to provide further comment, but said the service continues to review best practices in training and procedures.
When asked if she was concerned about the increasing number of police-involved shootings in Calgary—nine so far in 2016—Hughson said she’s pleased CPS is examining its training and protocols.
“There’s a difference between an unlawful act and one that could have been better.”
Referring to his experience, Thompson said Thursday his message to police is:
“Don’t shoot unless it’s absolutely necessary. And I guess it was, in his opinion.”
With an interview from Global’s Gary Bobrovitz
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