Mountie who shot arson suspect in Richmond last summer cleared of wrongdoing: IIO

From 2024: A Mountie is in hospital in serious condition after being stabbed during an altercation in Richmond, and the suspect was shot.

The police officer who shot and injured a suspect in Richmond last summer was justified in doing so, according to the office that investigates such incidents in B.C.

The shooting occurred around 11 p.m. on Aug. 22, 2024, after police were called to the 9800 block of Glenthorne Drive for a report that a man had set fire to a sign, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. said in a statement Friday.

“There was an interaction after police arrived, and the man was shot by police after producing a weapon,” the IIO statement reads.

“He was taken to a local hospital for treatment, as was one officer involved in the incident.”

At the time, Richmond RCMP said the injured officer had been stabbed and suffered “what are believed to be serious injuries.”

• Read more: Mountie stabbed, suspect shot during altercation in Richmond, B.C.

The IIO – which investigates all incidents involving police officers that result in death or serious harm to a member of the public, regardless of whether there is any allegation of wrongdoing on the part of police – began investigating shortly after the incident unfolded.

In Friday’s statement, the office announced that it had concluded its investigation.

“The chief civilian director has now reviewed the evidence – including video, witness statements, medical evidence and police reports – and determined that there are no reasonable grounds to believe any officer may have committed an offence,” the IIO said in its release.

Normally, when the IIO concludes an investigation and is not submitting a report to Crown counsel for consideration of charges, the office publishes a report summarizing its findings.

In this case, however, no such report has been published. The IIO said it will issue its public report on the matter after “concurrent court proceedings” related to the case are concluded.