Perimeter check

One man is in custody following a high-profile takedown that saw an RCMP officer discharge his weapon.

Barrhead RCMP Detachment members had the section of town between 46 Street and 52 Avenue blocked off with police vehicles in the early morning hours Feb. 22 and Sgt. Bob Dodds said it was in an effort to arrest known criminal Curtis Powder.

According to a press release Feb. 22, Barrhead RCMP were called to a residence at approximately 5 a.m. to arrest Powder on an outstanding warrant and an altercation ensued which resulted in the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) being brought into the investigation.

“The RCMP spotted a vehicle at a residence in Barrhead associated with a 33-year-old male known to have warrants for his arrest and members approached the residence to investigate,” ASIRT acting communications spokesperson Jason van Rassel said.

During the investigation, van Rassel said an incident occurred and one member of the RCMP detachment present fired his service pistol.

However, Powder was not struck.

Police said Powder fled the scene and was tracked by dogs to another location where he was arrested without further incident.

“Curtis Powder is in custody. There was only the one suspect, not two, and we were never looking for a blue Sebring, or whatever else was floating around social media,” Dodds said, adding there were no injuries and there was no threat to the public at any time.

“ASIRT will be investigating the circumstances that led to the RCMP member discharging his service weapon,” van Rassel said, adding while the investigation is underway, no further comment will be made.

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, van Rassel said.

In relation to a criminal record, Powder was previously arrested in Barrhead Jan. 28, 2015 for assault, resisting arrest and mischief.