Police cleared in fatal shooting of hostage-taker

Man had pointed loaded shotgun at officers in 2009

A public inquiry into the 2009 death of a Calgary man who was shot by police has cleared officers of wrongdoing.

Melvin Vandouwe was shot three times by Sgt. Andrew Jorgensen after Vandouwe brandished a sawed-off shotgun and pointed it at officers during a hostage situation the evening of May 24, 2009.

The nine-page inquiry report by provincial court Judge G. Sean Dunnigan found no breaches in police response, policies or subsequent reviews of the incident by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.

An earlier ASIRT report concluded Sgt. Jorgensen shot an intoxicated Vandouwe in self-defence.

Vandouwe had taken his neighbour, Kevin Gillingham, hostage during a house party after other partygoers didn’t invite Vandouwe to come with them to a casino.

An enraged Vandouwe began overturning furniture and a stereo system inside the home. He then went to his residence, returning with a sawedoff shotgun.

He held Gillingham hostage at gunpoint and threatened to kill four of the people who had attended the party.

Gillingham was able to use his cellphone to alert friends he was being held hostage.

A police tactical unit was called to the scene. Gillingham managed to outwit and escape his hostage-taker shortly after police arrived and was taken to safety.

Tactical officers, guns drawn, ordered Vandouwe to not move. Vandouwe turned toward the officers and raised the shotgun. Sgt. Jorgensen fired several shots, hitting Vandouwe, who was taken to the Foothills Hospital where he later died from his wounds.

Jorgensen’s report said non-lethal alternatives, such as a Taser or warning shots were not appropriate options.

A subsequent inspection found Vanhouwe’s sawed-off shotgun was loaded with two shells at the time of the incident.

Police seized 13 rifles and shotguns from Vanhouwe’s residence, as well as grenade simulators and trip flares. None of the guns was registered to Vanhouwe, several had been reported stolen from their registered owners.

ASIRT investigators found Vanhouwe was a chronic drinker and had a criminal record that included drug trafficking, impaired driving, dangerous driving and possession of stolen weapons.

Jorgensen’s report made no recommendations as to how Vandouwe’s death could have been avoided.

However, Vandouwe’s brother, Montgomery, asked the inquiry to recommend compulsory police searches of residences belonging to individuals subject to weapons prohibitions, and court ordered counselling for troubled individuals, like his brother.

The inquiry made no recommendations based on Montgomery Vandouwe’s input.