CALLING LAKE — The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) determined two officers involved in a 2021 Calling Lake RCMP shooting that injured one man acted reasonably and proportionally while under rifle fire.
On Aug. 26, 2021, RCMP members responded to reports that a woman had been shot several times with a .22 calibre rifle near Moose Drive on Calling Lake First Nation. Officers located the man believed to be the shooter in his residence not far from the scene and secured the house.
Over the next two to two-and-a-half hours, the man, later identified as 28-year-old Riley Logan, repeatedly left the house and fired shots towards responding officers before re-entering the residence.
Two members of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) dispatched to assist with the incident were relieving officers from their positions behind RCMP vehicles which were being targeted by Logan.
While taking up position in an exposed area, the two ERT officers observed Logan exit the residence, walk towards them, shoulder his rifle and begin firing. One officer fired a carbine rifle from approximately 100 metres away. The other fired a pistol from 80 metres away after deeming his 40mm less lethal projectile ineffective at that range.
In the 13-page investigation report released Oct. 22, ASIRT executive director Michael Ewenson wrote: “After a thorough, independent, and objective investigation into the conduct of the subject officers, it is my opinion that they were lawfully placed and acting properly in the execution of their duties.
“The force used was proportionate, necessary and reasonable in all the circumstances. As a result, there are no grounds to believe that an offence was committed.”
August 2021 incident
Witnesses interviewed by police and ASIRT investigators confirm seeing Logan shooting a .22 calibre rifle on Aug. 26, 2021 around his residence and near the injured woman. Ewenson’s report notes more than 50 .22 calibre casings were found in Logan’s driveway and front yard following the incident.
After being shot by the ERT officers, Logan retreated inside of the residence, and officers responded with medical care after locating him unarmed with the use of a drone. Logan was found in a bedroom bleeding from his right chest and arm area.
Logan was transported to the University of Alberta Hospital where he was treated for his injuries and interviewed by investigators before being released. Logan said he did not remember much of the nights event due to being heavily intoxicated, but said feelings of depression had him contemplating suicide by police.
On Sept. 28, 2021, Logan was charged with attempted murder, uttering threats, pointing a firearm, and discharging a firearm. He pleaded guilty to the charges of attempted murder and pointing a firearm in Edmonton on Dec. 2, 2021.
His sentence came two years after his plea; Logan was given seven-and-a-half years for the attempted murder conviction and another six for pointing a firearm in the Court of Kings Bench Sept. 25, 2023.