Boyle RCMP Cst. Jason Clace, 34, has been charged with five offenses in connection to a traffic stop last year that ended with his firearm being discharged.
Clace is charged with one count each of reckless discharge of a firearm; discharging a firearm with intent to wound, maim or disfigure; aggravated assault; use of a firearm while committing an indictable offence; and careless use of a firearm.
He will appear in Boyle Provincial Court on Dec. 11.
Clace was conducting a traffic stop in Boyle on Sept. 23, 2011. He is alleged to have fired his weapon while a vehicle was moving, wounding the male driver, Luke Huppie, in the shoulder.
Huppie faces charges of driving while unauthorized, driving without insurance, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and displaying an unauthorized licence plate.
Huppie was taken to the hospital to receive medical treatment for his gunshot wound, while the passengers of the vehicle were unharmed.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has been investigating the incident. Both the ASIRT communications officer and Sgt. Kevin McGillivray of the Boyle RCMP detachment declined comment on the issue as it is before the courts.
“ASIRT conducted an independent investigation into the actions of an RCMP member who discharged his police service handgun during the course of a motor vehicle stop occurring within town limits,” a press release from ASIRT on the issue states. “During the course of this shooting, the male driver of the motor vehicle sustained injuries.”
Clace was formally charged Nov. 8 with five criminal offences. McGillivray is reviewing Clace’s status and will soon determine if he will be suspended until the court date.
