An independent investigation has cleared two Calgary police officers of any wrongdoing in their handling of a machete-wielding man who set multiple fires inside the Calgary Municipal Building on August 2, 2022.The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) concluded that the officers’ use of force, which included non-lethal ARWEN rounds and a police service dog, was "proportionate, necessary, and reasonable" under the circumstances.The man, identified as AP, was armed with a machete and had deliberately started fires using accelerants. Police responded at approximately 3:55 a.m. to 911 calls reporting the break-in. Officers encountered AP, who refused repeated commands to surrender and remained armed for over 35 minutes despite being struck by multiple ARWEN rounds.SO1, an ARWEN operator, discharged nine rounds at AP during the standoff, striking various parts of his body. While attempting to incapacitate AP, one round hit him in the groin, causing significant injury. AP required surgery that resulted in the removal of one testicle and partial loss of another.SO1 denied deliberately targeting AP’s groin, noting that such areas are not preferred targets during ARWEN deployment. "AP presented himself as a difficult target," WO1, another officer on the scene, observed, adding that the situation was "chaotic."The standoff ended when AP placed his machete on a garbage bin but kept it within reach. SO2 fired a final ARWEN round while a police dog subdued AP, enabling officers to take him into custody without further incident.ASIRT noted that AP was later apprehended under the Mental Health Act and received treatment for injuries, including dog bites, bruising from blunt force trauma, and cuts sustained while breaking into the building. AP had a history of schizophrenia and violent behavior linked to non-compliance with medication."While the use of the ARWEN did result in AP suffering a significant injury, this was an unfortunate and unintended consequence of a lawful use of force," ASIRT stated, emphasizing that the officers acted within their legal authority under Section 25 of the Criminal Code.
