`SENSELESS' DEATH
Calgary officer killed during traffic stop
Two young men wanted on warrants for first-degree murder turned themselves in to police in connection with the “senseless” death of a Calgary police officer who was dragged by a vehicle fleeing a traffic stop on New Year's Eve.
Sgt. Andrew Harnett, 37, stopped a vehicle in the northeast community of Falconridge at about 10:50 p.m. when the driver sped off, striking him. Desperate efforts by nearby officers and paramedics to save his life were unsuccessful.
Harnett died from his injuries about an hour later in hospital, said police.
“Because of some senseless criminal actions our service and our community is mourning on this first day of 2021,” Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld said Friday. “More importantly, a family has lost a son, a sibling has lost a brother, a spouse has lost a partner and many, many members of our service have lost a really good friend.”
At about 5:30 p.m. Friday, after a citywide manhunt, two suspects being sought by police were arrested at police headquarters after turning themselves in.
“Time is crucial in the progression of investigations, as evidence can be tampered with or destroyed if not quickly secured,” Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta of the police homicide unit said Friday afternoon. “It was because of numerous tips from the public that we were able to locate and seize the suspect vehicle within hours and examine it for key evidence.”
The teens, aged 17 and 19, were arrested just hours after warrants were issued.
Harnett joined the service 12 years ago after serving two and half years as a military police officer. He was promoted to sergeant in 2019 and assigned to the Saddle Ridge community.
His elder brother, Jason Harnett, said he was “hell-bent” on becoming a police officer.
“He wanted to be involved in policing since the very beginning. He was with Crime Stoppers, he would hang out with the local cops and go on ride-alongs. He was just very focused on that — he was very determined,” Jason said on the phone from Ontario.
He said his younger brother loved Calgary and was dedicated to going above and beyond to “serve and protect.”
On the night of the fatal traffic stop, Jason thinks his brother must have been caught off guard.
“He was very agile, athletic, everything, so this came out of nowhere. He would have fought right until the last moment to try to get these guys, to stop this from happening — I can guarantee that.”
Harnett stopped the vehicle Thursday night because of a questionable licence plate, according to police.
Following his death, dozens of sworn and civilian members were deployed to “locate and bring to justice those responsible for taking the life of one of our members.”
First-degree murder warrants were issued Friday morning for a 17-year-old male — who cannot be named because he is a youth — and Amir Abdulrahman, 19, both of Calgary. The two suspects are known to police but Neufeld declined to offer specifics.
At the same time, investigators released details about the vehicle believed to be involved in the incident. At about 1:30 p.m. on Friday, the vehicle was located in the northeast community of Taradale following a tip from the public.
It is described as a coppercoloured 2006 Infiniti FX with a small spare tire on the front passenger side and visible hail damage.
Another vehicle, with no connection to the traffic stop or the suspects, was involved in the collision. Its driver is assisting with the homicide investigation, Neufeld said Friday morning. Police allege the older suspect was driving the SUV in question and the younger male was the passenger.
Neufeld said one of the reasons the service has been able to progress the investigation so quickly is because of Harnett's work before his death. Footage from his bodyworn camera and information he recorded helped to identify the suspects.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the homicide tip line at 403-428-8877, the Calgary police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-2228477 or online at www.calgarycrimestoppers.org