Investigation into injury sustained during contact with EPS
2021-07-30

On that day at about 3:41 a.m., an EPS officer operating a marked police vehicle attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Chevrolet truck operated by a suspected impaired driver near 103A Avenue and Jasper Avenue. The truck failed to stop for police and a short pursuit began, westbound on Jasper Avenue and ending at 124 Street and Jasper Avenue when the truck failed to negotiate the turn and struck a pole, disabling the vehicle. The force of the impact was sufficient to deploy the truck’s airbags.

Following the collision, the driver of the truck, a 29-year-old woman, attempted to flee the scene on foot. The police vehicle arrived at the location after the collision, and the EPS officer exited the vehicle and pursued the driver of the truck on foot. While attempting to arrest the woman and take her into custody, the officer deployed a conducted energy weapon (CEW). Two additional EPS officers arrived on scene: one dealt with the two uninjured female passengers who remained in the truck while the other assisted with the woman’s arrest. Once the woman had been taken into custody, she became unresponsive. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were contacted and transported the woman to hospital, where she was admitted and received treatment for facial injuries but has since left the hospital.

As ASIRT’s investigation is underway, no further information will be released at this time. ASIRT’s investigation will examine the actions of police during this incident, and seek to determine the cause of the woman’s injuries. EPS will maintain responsibility for the investigation into the woman and her actions prior to and including the collision.

ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.

ASIRT

This release is distributed by the Government of Alberta on behalf of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.