Police watchdog says death during break-in call was suicide

A provincial police watchdog has completed its investigation into a man found dead in a northern Alberta home after a break-andenter call, saying there are no reasonable grounds or suspicion any officers who responded had committed an offence.

In a Tuesday news release, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) outlined its findings in the death of a 20-year-old man on Feb. 11, 2017.

At 9:40 p.m. that night, Beaverlodge RCMP were called to a rural home near Goodfare, 60 kilometres northwest of Grande Prairie, following a complaint of a suspicious man at the residence.

A neighbour tasked with watching the property while its occupants were away had spotted a vehicle in the driveway and lights on in the basement. The homeowner was contacted and police received permission to enter after they learned no one should be there.

The man was believed to be known to the homeowner and police. He had a criminal history, outstanding warrants and “could be unpredictable,” said the release.

Three officers found the man seated on a couch with a shotgun. When he leaped up, police asked him to drop the weapon and the officers slowly backed out of the house.

They were followed by the man, still armed. Police issued further commands to drop the weapon as the man retreated back into the house and officers repositioned themselves outside.

Police then heard a single gunshot from within the house.

When deemed safe, police re-entered to find the man on a landing halfway down the stairs with a visible head wound and the shotgun positioned between his legs.

An autopsy determined he died immediately from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Toxicology confirmed the man used cannabis and cocaine prior to his death.

ASIRT determined officers on scene were acting lawfully by receiving permission to enter, attempting to de-escalate the situation, and tactically repositioning until receiving additional support.

ASIRT executive director Susan D. Hughson reviewed the investigation and evidence to make the final determination there was no reason to believe the officers committed an offence.

ASIRT began its investigation on Feb. 12, 2018. Its mandate is to investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.