Saskatchewan Police Watchdog Clears Mountie in Canwood Shooting Incident
Saskatchewan's civilian-led police oversight body has concluded that no criminal charges will be brought against an RCMP officer who shot a man during a police pursuit in spring 2025. The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) released its final report on April 10, detailing the circumstances that led to the shooting incident near Canwood.
Incident Details and Police Pursuit
According to the SIRT report, the incident began on May 28, 2025, when members of the RCMP's Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team (WEST) located a vehicle associated with an individual wanted in connection with recent firearms incidents on the James Smith Cree Nation. When the vehicle failed to stop for police, officers initiated a pursuit that eventually ended in a pasture east of Canwood, approximately 67 kilometres northeast of Prince Albert.
The report indicates that a 32-year-old man exited the vehicle, leading to what investigators described as a "confrontation" between the suspect and police officers. During this encounter, an RCMP officer fired his service pistol twice, striking the man in the arm.
SIRT Investigation Findings
The SIRT investigation determined that the officer involved reasonably perceived an imminent threat during the confrontation. According to the report, "The Subject Officer observed a firearm in the possession of the affected person, and movements by the affected person that were reasonably perceived by the Subject Officer to indicate an intention to fight rather than surrender."
Based on these observations and the overall circumstances of the encounter, SIRT concluded that the officer's decision to use lethal force was justified and reasonable. The oversight body stated there were no grounds to believe any criminal offence had been committed by police officers involved in the incident.
Conclusion of Investigation
With its investigation complete, SIRT has formally concluded its involvement in the matter without referring the case to Saskatchewan's Attorney General for further review. The report states, "There being no grounds to believe an offence was committed by any police officer, SIRT's involvement with this matter is concluded without referral to the Attorney General for Saskatchewan."
The decision represents the final chapter in an investigation that examined the actions of police during a high-risk apprehension attempt. The SIRT report provides detailed documentation of the events leading up to the shooting and the factors considered in determining the reasonableness of the officer's response to perceived threats during the confrontation.
