Alberta’s police watchdog is investigating the circumstances surrounding a major police incident on one of Calgary’s busiest streets on Friday that saw an officer fire his gun.
Calgary police spotted a stolen pickup truck with two people inside heading south on Edmonton Trail at about 4 p.m. A police helicopter and the tactical team were called in when the Ford F-150 “went mobile, driving throughout south Calgary, at times into oncoming traffic and on sidewalks.”
“The Ford F-150 entered the parking lot at Chinook Centre, into oncoming mall traffic, before returning onto Macleod Trail,” police said in a news release Friday night. “At approximately 5 p.m., a decision was made that the vehicle’s driving pattern presented significant risk to public safety and that the vehicle had to be stopped.
“A tactical unit vehicle made intentional contact with the Ford F-150 at southbound Macleod Trail and Heritage Drive. Shortly after, a tactical unit member discharged his service firearm.”
According to police, officers then arrested the people who were in the truck. One of the occupants was taken to hospital with minor injuries that police said weren’t related to the shooting. Nobody else was injured.
WATCH: Video from the Global 1 news helicopter in Calgary shows southbound Macleod Trail blocked on Friday evening as a major police incident gets underway.
Chris Leaming, 23, has been charged with the following offences:
- Possession of stolen property over $5,000
- Dangerous driving
- Flight from police
- Disqualified driving
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Prohibited possession of a firearm
- Possession of a prohibited weapon
- Prohibited weapon in a vehicle
- Unsafe storage/transport of a prohibited weapon
Leaming’s next court appearance is expected on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018.
The officer that fired their weapon has been placed on administrative leave for 30 days, as per protocol, police said.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which is now investigating the police actions in connection with the incident, is called on to investigate serious incidents involving law enforcement agencies in Alberta.
ASIRT said Monday its investigation will be focused on the officer discharging a firearm and the Calgary Police Service will investigate the alleged criminal activity of the people in the stolen truck.
WATCH: A large police presence could be seen on Macleod Trail on Friday evening as police vehicles could be seen pinning a vehicle on the scene. Blake Lough reports.