No charges for officers after 2024 van chase, police shooting on Fishing Lake First Nation

Saskatchewan’s police watchdog said no charges will be laid against RCMP officers after a 34-year-old man was shot and killed on Fishing Lake First Nation over a year ago.

The Serious Incident Response Team said in its latest report RCMP were called after someone spotted a wanted man around the reserve in September 2024.

The man was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant, according to the report, after he had violated his terms of release.

The watchdog said the man drove off in a white van from a home after police tried to conduct a traffic stop.

What followed was a nearly 40-minute chase around the area of the First Nation, spanning nearly 67 kilometres.

During that time, SIRT said it got a report of a 15-passenger van that had gone missing from a local school, matching the vehicle police were chasing.

“While police were already engaged in pursuing the van, the call provided additional confirmation of the affected person as the driver of the van and of his possible possession of a firearm,” the report read.

SIRT said attempts to use a tire deflation device were unsuccessful as the van swerved around it.

About 30 minutes into the police chase, the van veered off into a residential area of the First Nation.

The report said an officer watched the barrel of a shotgun come out the driver’s side window of the van.

It said the officer fired several rounds from his gun at the vehicle, one striking the man in his left arm, causing a non-fatal injury.

There was a moment of confusion between officers, it said, when they believed the man had fired a gun at police.

The report said more shots were fired at the vehicle by a different officer, but no more struck the man.

It said the van entered a field and drove onto an ATV trail a short time later, then veered off and came to a stop.

SIRT determined it was during that time the man shot himself in the head with a 20-gauge shotgun and died.

While SIRT said the officer did shoot and strike the man during the chase, his actions were reasonable and laws allow officers to use as much force as necessary while on duty.

SIRT said none of the shots fired by the officers contributed to the man’s death.

No charges will be laid for either officer in relation to this incident.