Man asked to drop weapon 14 times before police shot him in downtown skywalk: IIU

A Winnipeg police officer asked a man to drop his weapon 14 times before shooting himin the downtownskywalk in May, according to an investigation by Manitoba's police watchdog.

There are no grounds for charges againstpolice officers after the25-year-old man was shot in the skywalk which crosses above Garry Street and is linked to the police headquarters Manitoba's Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) said in a release on Monday.

• Police officer shoots man in downtown skywalk
• St. Boniface police-involved shooting is 8th investigated by Manitoba watchdog

Officers encountered the man, who washolding a black stickwith the end hidden in his armpit, over the noon hour on May 1, the release said.

The man went into an optometrist's office, where there were a number of people, and tried to hold the door shut.

When the officers forced their way through the door the man pulled the stick from under his arm and revealed that he had scissors taped to the end.

He pointed the scissorsat police and moments later, one officer fired two rounds hitting the man in his side, the IIU release said. The man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

About two minutes before he was shot, the mancalled 911.

The 911 recording, which captured the words of the operator on the line and police on the scene, showed that the officer told the man to drop his weapon 14 times.

• What if instead of yelling 'drop your weapon,' police asked 'how can I help?'

IIU also interviewed the man who was shot, other police officers and 11 people who witnessed the shooting.

"[The officer] was faced with a dangerous and dynamic situation that unfolded quickly. It would be unreasonable for police to wait before acting," IIU civilian director Zane Tessler wrote in his report on the incident.

"Any delay could have led to the death of WPS officers or other civilians within the [optometrist's] office."

Since there are outstanding charges against the man, Tessler's complete report will not be available until it goes through the courts.

Every time an officer in Manitoba is involved in a fatal incident, the Police Services Act requires the IIU to take over the investigation.

More Manitoba news

• Manitoba couple could pay extra $1,500 a month for medication after funding changes
• Vehicles dodge chunks of concrete on Winnipeg's Route 90
• CBC INVESTIGATES Winnipeg man uses ties to Russian Cultural Association to defraud clients: court documents