In custody shot through the head by RCMP officer's pistol

[Durgan]

RCMP Officer shot a person in custody.Very hard to find this in the media. This story was only mentioned once on the CBC, not their normal hysterical reporting?
Durgan.


Quote:
By JONATHAN WOODWARD

Friday, November 4, 2005 Posted at 4:58 AM EST

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Vancouver — Ian Bush was just being "a young fella" when he jokingly gave the wrong name to a police officer pouring out his beer outside a hockey game in Houston, B.C., this past weekend, his family said.

But as the 22-year-old was being released from police custody at the station half an hour later, a scuffle broke out and Mr. Bush died, shot through the head with a bullet from an RCMP officer's pistol.

The death has rocked Mr. Bush's family and the people of Houston, a town of 4,500 about 300 kilometres west of Prince George, who want to know whether the officer -- a junior with less than five years on the force -- could have handled the situation differently.

"It's pretty shocking when you go to a hockey game and end up shot," said Mike Eggers, Mr. Bush's uncle.

Quote
Call for outside review of man's death
Last updated Nov 4 2005 08:34 AM PST
CBC News
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association says an independent review is needed, after a man was shot in the head a week ago while in RCMP custody in northwestern B.C.

Ian Bush, 22, died on Oct. 29 after a violent struggle with an RCMP officer at the Houston detachment.

Bush's family says police have only told them that he died from a gunshot wound to the head.

But the BCCLA says the family and the public have a right to know exactly what happened. And it's filing a complaint with the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, a civilian oversight group.
URL to STory.
http://www.cbc.ca/bc/story/bc_rcmp-shooting20051104.html


IP

 

[Shiva]

Re: In custody shot through the head by RCMP officer's pisto

What a horrible story and I hadn't heard anything in the news. Something stinks about this case.

B.C. family wants answers after 22-year-old dies in police custody

Last Updated Mon, 07 Nov 2005 21:15:55 EST
CBC News

One week after a young man from northern British Columbia was shot to death at an RCMP detachment, his family says they still have no idea what led an officer to kill him.

Ian Bush, 22, was shot in the head while in police custody in the town of Houston. The only witness is the officer who pulled the trigger.

On Oct. 29, a Saturday night, Bush was at a hockey game at the local rink. His friend, Jeremy Stapleton, was there too when Bush was arrested for having an open beer in his hand.

Stapleton says Bush didn't give the officer his real name. Instead he gave the name of a friend. The RCMP officer didn't find it funny.

"He [Bush] left in the car, he was laughing, joking, in a good mood," said Stapleton.

Sometime over the next hour, a police news release claims, Bush became violent at the police detachment and attacked the officer. That's when he was shot.

It is a version of events Bush's sisters totally reject.

"He didn't have disrespect for police officers, not ever. It's not that he was this disrespectful child like they are trying to make him sound. He just wouldn't go fighting with a police officer," said his sister Renee in an interview with CBC News.

The sisters say Bush never had any problems with the law. But the only witness is the officer who pulled the trigger.

Many people in Houston say they are shaken and so is their faith in the police.

"What they want to know is whether they can trust the police. If they go out and have a beer and get picked up walking home, are they going to get beat up and shot next?" said a Houston resident.

Bush's sisters say the police have promised them an explanation, eventually, but they are skeptical.

"We don't feel like it's going to be the truth because it's the RCMP investigating the RCMP. Maybe we would have more confidence if it was someone else investigating," said Andrea Patrick.

The officer who was last with Bush is now on administrative leave, pending an investigation.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

Re: In custody shot through the head by RCMP officer's pisto

Something really stinks here.... :x

 

[Boydfish]

RE: In custody shot throu

The part that really stank on this one was the initial reporting: Originally the RCMP announced that a person had died in custody due to "unknown causes".

This is a very good highlight that the Oppal Report on Policing was bang on that either the BC government must have total oversight over the RCMP(Not unreasonable as it is nearly totally funded by BC tax dollars, like upwards of 90% of their operational budget), including investigating officer misconduct or that BC must stop contracting out it's policing.

 

[yballa09]

Re: In custody shot through the head by RCMP officer's pisto

this is crazy. I cant imagine there not being another way for the officer to properly defend himself, even if the young man did become violent like they claim. If he had no weapon, was the police officer really in that big of danger? Arent police officers supposed to know self defense, without the use of a gun? And when they do use a gun they arent supposed to shoot to kill, theyre supposed to shoot at the mass (stomach area).

 

[Boydfish]

RE: In custody shot throu

If he had no weapon, was the police officer really in that big of danger? Arent police officers supposed to know self defense, without the use of a gun?

It can depend on quite few factors, including if the other guy tries to relieve you of your weapon.

And when they do use a gun they arent supposed to shoot to kill, theyre supposed to shoot at the mass (stomach area).

Yes, but people move around. Here's a way for you to understand how hard it is to actually hit with a handgun. If you have access to firearms, the next time you're at the range, try the following. If you don't, get access, but in the interim, use a dartboard and dart:
1) Load the firearm and have a friend set up the target at about 20 feet(6 feet for a dart). If you have a quadrant target, have your friend number the centre of each quadrant 1-4
2) Place the firearm on the bench.
3) Drop down and do push-ups, with you friend counting them. As soon as you hit failure, hop up to the bench. As soon as you're up and reaching, have your friend call out a number from 1-4. Have him hit a stopwatch as soon as you pick up the pistol/dart.
4) You now have two seconds to aquire and hit your target as per your friend's number.

Let me know how you do.

 

[Twila]

RE: In custody shot throu

We heard this story for several nights on the local news. But it never seemed to get more detail with each passing.

I wonder if we'll ever hear all the details or be satisfied with what is released.

 

[JomZ]

RE: In custody shot through the head by RCMP officer's pisto

But as the 22-year-old was being released from police custody at the station half an hour later, a scuffle broke out and Mr. Bush died, shot through the head with a bullet from an RCMP officer's pistol.

Where did this happen at the police station for this to not have been seen by anyone else. I mean its a police station and there isn't anyone on duty besides a junior officer.

 

[no1important]

RE: In custody shot throu

Well Houston is a small town and maybe they do not have many constables? Seems strange though no one else was around.

 

[tracy]

Re: RE: In custody shot throu

Well Houston is a small town and maybe they do not have many constables? Seems strange though no one else was around.

It is an extremely small detachment. Apparently, in case there was any trouble as a result of this incident they got some members from Smithers to come. If you have to get help from Smithers, you're a very small detachment.

 

[Boydfish]

RE: In custody shot throu

If you have to get help from Smithers, you're a very small detachment.

Another wonderful benefit of BC contracting out it's police services and the dismantling of the BC Auxilliary Police system a few years ago.