RCMP and the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) are investigating after an officer discharged his weapon at a suspect attempting to ram a police vehicle and officers.
RCMP and the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) are investigating after an officer discharged his weapon at a suspect attempting to ram a police vehicle and officers.
Okotoks RCMP members approached a vehicle on the north side of Safeway following a complaint of a suspicious man in a parked car on the evening of April 19.
The suspect then put the car in motion and rammed into a police vehicle. The car also clipped two officers who were knocked down before one RCMP member opened fire on the vehicle and the suspect drove off.
The suspect and vehicle were located soon after a short distance away in the Sheep River Cove area. Once in custody, EMS transported the suspect to hospital as a precaution, but released him from care into the custody of Okotoks RCMP.
Okotokian Spencer Sinclair-Smith, 16, was a little shaken up after witnessing the event.
Sinclair-Smith said he was leaving McDonald's with friends when he saw an RCMP cruiser pull in behind the vehicle.
One by one, Sinclair-Smith said he saw more vehicles enter the lot until four or five vehicles were in the parking lot with the suspect car. As officers approached, that's when the youth said he saw the car ram backwards into a police car, followed by officers shouting and gunfire.
"I would not expect this to happen in Okotoks - it's such a small and peaceful town," said Sinclair-Smith, adding that he still feels safe.
"I'd seen the way the cops reacted and how fast they got him, so I feel safe for sure."
The two officers received minor injuries from the incident and did not require further medical attention.
UPDATE: The suspect has been identified as Cody Petrie, 25, who has been charged with 10 criminal code offences: possession of a controlled substance, flight from police, two counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession of property over $5,000 obtained by crime, breach of probation, two counts of failing to comply with recognizance, and mischief.
Petrie has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Okotoks Provincial Court on April 27.
