Man killed by Calgary officer ran at police with spike, says ASIRT
A man who was fatally shot by Calgary police in the city's southeast last month charged at an officer with a three-foot-foot spike, according to an investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.
On Feb. 14, officers responded to calls of a break-in at an abandoned building in the 3000 block of Second Avenue S.E. in the Franklin Industrial Park.
The Calgary Police Service said officers attended the building at around 4:20 a.m.
A security guard noted there was broken glass and a possible entry point into the building. Five CPS officers went into the building wearing body cameras.
"After entering the building, the officers heard shouting coming from a washroom inside the building. The officers verbally directed the occupant of the washroom to exit but were not successful," the police watchdog said in a statement Wednesday.
Officers then entered the washroom, with two drawing conductive energy weapons or Tasers and one drawing a gun.
"Two officers deployed their CEWs but failed to halt the [man]," ASIRT said. "Another officer discharged their firearm, striking [him]. Before being struck, [he] hit one of the officers with the spike."
The intruder, later identified as 34-year-old Mitchell Croston, was given medical treatment but died at the scene. The officer sustained minor injuries.
ASIRT is mandated to investigate incidents involving Alberta's police that have resulted in serious injury or death.
