Police watchdog clears Red Deer RCMP in death

The province’s police watchdog has cleared Red Deer RCMP officers in the 2015 death of a 45-yearold man.

Officers used a spike belt to stop a stolen Honda Civic on Oct. 6, 2015. The driver fled on foot, and officers lost him in a wooded area when he ran toward Waskasoo Creek.

After the man’s family filed a missing person’s report, police found the man’s body submerged in the creek Nov. 11.

An autopsy determined his death was non-criminal.

The conduct of the officers involved in both the attempt to apprehend the man and the attempt to locate him did not in any way cause his death, Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) executive director Susan Hughson said in a news release Tuesday.

“At no time was there actual physical contact with the man and any of the involved officers. Additionally, the search was appropriately conducted and resourced, albeit unsuccessful,” she said. “No criminal charges will stem from this incident.”

ASIRT investigates incidents involving Alberta police that result in serious injury or death, as well as allegations of police misconduct.