RCMP accused of not conducting 'adequate investigation' of shooting

The RCMP have been ordered to review their investigation of a fatal police shooting in northern B.C. in December 2004, an incident which has a raised a lot of questions.

On Monday, James Lévêque of the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP said their probe of the shooting of Kevin St. Arnaudis being expanded to include a new allegation.

"Members of the RCMP failed to conduct an adequate investigation into the death of Kevin St. Arnaud. Evidence heard during the inquest indicated there were other issues which needed to be investigated," Lévêque said.

The unarmed burglary suspect was shot and killed in Vanderhoof in 2004.

St. Arnaud was shot three times by a rookie RCMP constable. The national police force investigated, and stated it was a case of "self-defence."

As a result, Const. Ryan Sheremetta was not charged.

A coroner's inquest earlier this yearheard contradictory evidence about how and why the officer shot and killed St. Arnaud.

Under oath, Sheremetta described chasing a suspect through a snowy field late at night. The officer even got down on the inquest room floor to show the inquest jury how he slipped on the ice and fired his gun three times from down on the ground.

But his police partner testified Sheremetta was standing in a police shooting stance when he fired his weapon. That was supported by forensic evidence.

RCMP must investigate its investigation

The shooting was already the subject of a major probe by the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP.

The RCMP have just completed their own analysisof the inquest transcripts. Spokesman Staff Sgt. John Ward said the Mounties are satisfied the case is closed.

He said there was no new information, noting the Crown counsel and the coroner's jury had no issues with the results of the police internal investigation.

Still, it's now the RCMP's job to investigate its own investigation, and report back to the Public Complaints Commissioner.