Crown Prosecution Stays Charges Against Calgary Police Officer in 2022 Shooting Incident
Criminal charges against a Calgary police officer who discharged his service weapon during the arrest of an armed suspect have been formally stayed by the Crown prosecution. The decision effectively ends the legal proceedings against Constable Christopher Huggins, who faced allegations of aggravated assault and careless use of a firearm following a December 2022 incident.
Defense Counsel Supports Prosecution's Decision
Defense lawyer Don MacLeod, representing Constable Huggins, stated that the Crown's decision to drop the case was appropriate and not surprising. "I am absolutely not surprised that that decision was reached," MacLeod commented on Monday, following the formal notification that charges had been stayed through a letter to Calgary Court of Justice last month.
MacLeod explained that the Crown maintains an ongoing obligation to ensure any prosecution remains justified throughout legal proceedings. "The test to determine if a prosecution will be stayed is to determine if there is a reasonable likelihood of a conviction and if it is in the public interest to proceed," he noted, while declining to provide specific details about the case.
Background of the 2022 Shooting Incident
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) initiated an investigation into the December 22, 2022, shooting shortly after it occurred. Charges were formally laid against Constable Huggins on February 20, 2025, following the extensive investigation.
According to ASIRT's initial press release, the incident involved an individual wielding a sword at a northwest Calgary parkade who sustained serious injuries after being shot by an officer. Calgary police had responded to reports of a man with a weapon in the Varsity Estates area shortly before midnight on December 21, 2022.
Police Response and De-escalation Attempts
Once officers arrived at the scene, they located the armed individual within a parkade and engaged in extended de-escalation efforts. Calgary police indicated that the man refused to comply with officers' commands despite these attempts.
The situation ultimately escalated to what police described as "a point that an officer discharged their service weapon." Following the shooting, officers immediately provided medical care to the injured individual until Emergency Medical Services arrived. The man was transported to hospital in serious but stable condition.
Legal Proceedings Concluded
With the Crown's decision to stay the charges, the legal case against Constable Huggins has concluded without proceeding to trial. The prosecution's determination that continuing the case was not in the public interest or likely to result in conviction brings closure to a matter that has been under investigation for over two years.
This development represents a significant resolution in a case that highlighted the complex decisions police officers must make during dangerous confrontations with armed individuals. The Crown's assessment of both the likelihood of conviction and public interest factors ultimately guided the decision to discontinue prosecution.
