Latest news with #Creston
CTV News
7 days ago
- CTV News
Fatally shooting 16-year-old driver was reasonable, B.C. police watchdog rules
Investigators from B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office are seen in this file photo from the IIO. An RCMP officer who shot and killed a 16-year-old pickup driver in Creston did not commit an offence when using lethal force, B.C.'s police watchdog has ruled. The Independent Investigations Office released its public report on the Dec. 14, 2022, incident last week, shedding light on the events that lead to the teenager's death. The interaction began at 4:23 a.m., when one officer noticed a pickup truck running stop signs and driving erratically, according to the IIO. After the truck sped past a second officer and blew through another stop sign, police made a plan to pursue it. Two officers followed tracks in the snow along the highway and then onto a residential street, where they found the truck, which was reportedly stolen several hours prior. When he saw the officers, the teenager, referred to as the 'affected person' or AP, turned into a driveway in front of them. The officer who fired the shots, referred to as the 'subject officer' or SO, followed. The other Mountie's vehicle captured the incident on video. 'As the SO stepped out of the driver's door of his police vehicle and stood next to (it), the AP's pickup truck accelerated and drove towards the SO, scraping along the driver's side of the SO's police vehicle and nearly running over the SO, who had drawn his gun,' the report reads. 'The SO moved backwards along the side of his vehicle to avoid being hit. As the SO did this, he fired his gun towards the driver's area of the AP's pickup truck which continued forward and then collided with WO2's vehicle.' Forensic analysis determined the Mountie fired eight shots in rapid succession, and the final shot went through the driver's window and hit AP as he drove by. The SO then said over radio, 'Shots by police. Shots by police. Suspect vehicle, black Chev pickup. Tried to run me over,' according to the report. The pickup truck drove off, and police found it crashed in a ditch two kilometres away at 4:47 a.m. The IIO said it found 'information to suggest' that a passenger who was in the truck took over driving after AP was shot, but the individual did not respond to investigators' interview requests. Officers removed the now-unconscious AP from the vehicle and performed life-saving measures, which were continued by paramedics for about 45 minutes, the report says. The teenager was declared deceased at 5:45 a.m. An autopsy found he died of a single gunshot wound to the torso. In cases of lethal force, the IIO's chief civilian director is tasked with determining whether an officer's actions were lawful, based on the threat posed by the 'affected person' and 'whether, in the words of the Criminal Code, it gave reasonable grounds for the officers to believe lethal force was 'necessary for the self-preservation of (the officer) or the preservation of anyone under (the officer's) protection from death of grievous bodily harm,'' according to the agency. In the report, chief civilian director Jessica Berglund said based on the video and evidence from the witness officer, it was 'objectively reasonable' for the SO to believe the AP's driving posed a threat of death or grievous harm. 'Based on reaction times and the physiological processes involved in firing a weapon, it was reasonable for the SO to continue firing the gun until he reasonably believed he was out of danger,' she wrote. 'It was reasonable for the SO to believe that AP's driving posed a risk to his life as the pickup truck drove towards him. The SO fired his gun to prevent the pickup from continuing its path and stopped firing believed he was out of danger.' She said the AP's intent when he drove toward the police cars – and the only exit from the dead-end driveway – is unknown, but regardless of intention it was 'objectively reasonable' for the officer to believe he was in serious danger. 'Given these considerations, it cannot be said that the SO's decision to shoot the AP was unreasonable in the circumstances,' Berglund wrote. 'Accordingly, as the chief civilian director of the IIO, I do not consider that there are reasonable grounds to believe an officer may have committed an offence under any enactment and therefore the matter will not be referred to Crown Counsel for consideration of charges.'
CTV News
7 days ago
- CTV News
B.C. police officer who fatally shot 16-year-old driver cleared of wrongdoing
Investigators from B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office are seen in this file photo from the IIO. An RCMP officer who shot and killed a 16-year-old pickup driver in Creston did not commit an offence when using lethal force, B.C.'s police watchdog has ruled. The Independent Investigations Office released its public report on the Dec. 14, 2022, incident last week, shedding light on the events that lead to the teenager's death. The interaction began at 4:23 a.m., when one officer noticed a pickup truck running stop signs and driving erratically, according to the IIO. After the truck sped past a second officer and blew through another stop sign, police made a plan to pursue it. Two officers followed tracks in the snow along the highway and then onto a residential street, where they found the truck, which was reportedly stolen several hours prior. When he saw the officers, the teenager, referred to as the 'affected person' or AP, turned into a driveway in front of them. The officer who fired the shots, referred to as the 'subject officer' or SO, followed. The other Mountie's vehicle captured the incident on video. 'As the SO stepped out of the driver's door of his police vehicle and stood next to (it), the AP's pickup truck accelerated and drove towards the SO, scraping along the driver's side of the SO's police vehicle and nearly running over the SO, who had drawn his gun,' the report reads. 'The SO moved backwards along the side of his vehicle to avoid being hit. As the SO did this, he fired his gun towards the driver's area of the AP's pickup truck which continued forward and then collided with WO2's vehicle.' Forensic analysis determined the Mountie fired eight shots in rapid succession, and the final shot went through the driver's window and hit AP as he drove by. The SO then said over radio, 'Shots by police. Shots by police. Suspect vehicle, black Chev pickup. Tried to run me over,' according to the report. The pickup truck drove off, and police found it crashed in a ditch two kilometres away at 4:47 a.m. The IIO said it found 'information to suggest' that a passenger who was in the truck took over driving after AP was shot, but the individual did not respond to investigators' interview requests. Officers removed the now-unconscious AP from the vehicle and performed life-saving measures, which were continued by paramedics for about 45 minutes, the report says. The teenager was declared deceased at 5:45 a.m. An autopsy found he died of a single gunshot wound to the torso. In cases of lethal force, the IIO's chief civilian director is tasked with determining whether an officer's actions were lawful, based on the threat posed by the 'affected person' and 'whether, in the words of the Criminal Code, it gave reasonable grounds for the officers to believe lethal force was 'necessary for the self-preservation of (the officer) or the preservation of anyone under (the officer's) protection from death of grievous bodily harm,'' according to the agency. In the report, chief civilian director Jessica Berglund said based on the video and evidence from the witness officer, it was 'objectively reasonable' for the SO to believe the AP's driving posed a threat of death or grievous harm. 'Based on reaction times and the physiological processes involved in firing a weapon, it was reasonable for the SO to continue firing the gun until he reasonably believed he was out of danger,' she wrote. 'It was reasonable for the SO to believe that AP's driving posed a risk to his life as the pickup truck drove towards him. The SO fired his gun to prevent the pickup from continuing its path and stopped firing believed he was out of danger.' She said the AP's intent when he drove toward the police cars – and the only exit from the dead-end driveway – is unknown, but regardless of intention it was 'objectively reasonable' for the officer to believe he was in serious danger. 'Given these considerations, it cannot be said that the SO's decision to shoot the AP was unreasonable in the circumstances,' Berglund wrote. 'Accordingly, as the chief civilian director of the IIO, I do not consider that there are reasonable grounds to believe an officer may have committed an offence under any enactment and therefore the matter will not be referred to Crown Counsel for consideration of charges.'
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Yahoo
Creston Police: Woman charged with theft Monday
Jul. 2—Christina M. McDonald, 38, of Creston, was taken into custody 6:57 p.m. June 30, at Bomgaars on the charge of theft, fifth degree. No details were available on the charge. McDonald was transported to the Union County Jail where she was released from after posting $300 cash or surety bond. — — — — — Glen S. Loe, 29, of Creston, was taken into custody 12:20 p.m. June 30, at Clark and Chestnut streets on a Union County warrant for the charge of possession of a controlled substance, first offense. No details were available on the charge. Loe was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting $1,000 cash or surety bond.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Creston Police: Fence post damage results in felony charge
Jun. 26—Alex R. Cunningham, 34, of Creston, was taken into custody 4:50 p.m. June 24, at his residence on a Union County warrant charging him with eight counts of theft, fifth degree. According to a Creston Police report, Walmart Loss Prevention provided video footage of a male, identified as Cunningham, going through the self checkout on eight occasions between March 20 and May 20, scanning and paying for only some of the items he had in his cart each time. He bagged or put the unpaid items back into his cart and exited the store with the items. The total amount of items taken without being paid for was $269.31. Cunningham was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting 10% of a $2,400 bond. — — — — — Tyler J. Hicks, 36, of Fontanelle, was taken into custody 5:55 p.m. June 24, at Chestnut and Fremont streets on a Union County warrant for the charge of criminal mischief, second degree. According to a Creston Police report, on June 20, a resident in the 700 block of North Walnut Street reported damage to a fence. Officers observed four fence posts had been cut at the base of each post with a saw of some sort. The victim had video of the incident. The footage from approximately 8:20 p.m. May 31, shows a male, identified as Hicks, walk behind the fence with a small battery-powered saw in his hand. Hicks stayed behind the fence for a short time during which his head is seen moving from fence post to fence post. The victim had a local construction company provided an estimate to repair the fence for $1,961.21. Hicks was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting $5,000 cash or surety bond. — — — — — Jacob M. Erskine, 37, of Creston, was taken into custody 6:53 p.m. June 24, at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for the charge of OWI, first offense. According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 11:59 p.m. May 29, a 2005 Audi was stopped at Division and Devoe streets for failing to have working taillights. Contact was made with the driver, identified as Erskine, who was observed to have dilated pupils, bloodshot, watery eyes, large heat bumps on the back of his tongue and the odor of marijuana coming from his person. Erskine admitted to smoking marijuana approximately 20 minutes before being stopped. When asked how high he felt on a scale of one to 10, Erskine rated himself at a four or five. Erskine consented to field sobriety testing and ARIDE testing where he showed numerous validated clues of impairment and indicators of impairment. He consented to provide a urine specimen which was sent to the DCI lab for testing. A toxicology report was received June 20 which showed a positive screen for marijuana metabolites and tricyclics. Erskine was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting $1,000 cash or surety bond.
The Citizen
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Creston highlights hope, talent and leadership
Creston College proudly took part in Slipper Day 2025 in support of the Reach for a Dream Foundation. Learners donned their cosiest slippers, with pre-primary learners adding charm in pyjamas and cuddly toys – all in the spirit of hope and compassion for children with life-threatening illnesses. Meanwhile, a number of talented learners shone at the Con Spirito Eisteddfod held at Suid-Natal. Congratulations to Arya and Utara Naicker, Cecilia Rautenbach, Kelli Steyn, Anna and Kate Chivers, Achira Singh, Shaylee Faddy, Matthew Keudel-Schaffer and Kailash Hiralal for their standout music and dance performances. In a move to enhance learner safety, Creston has introduced School Bus Monitors across all routes. These appointed learners will assist with registers, promote respectful behaviour, and support drivers. Creston proudly welcomes monitors: Simoné van Heerden (Scottburgh), Athuli Mbili (Hibberdene) and Lolitha Zoko (Port Edward). HAVE YOUR SAY Like the South Coast Herald's Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
