Colton Crowshoe homicide: ASIRT to probe actions of Calgary police
Aboriginal man's family alleges police mishandled his missing person investigation
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating how Calgary police dealt with 18-year-old Colton Crowshoe in the days leading up to his disappearance and death earlier this summer.
The aboriginal man was reported missing on July 6. His body was found in a pond in northeast Calgary on July 24.
Crowshoe’s family claimed police mishandled the investigation into his disappearance before his body was found, downplaying their input and ruling out foul play.
Four days before Crowshoe was reported missing, he had been arrested and charged with trespassing at night and break-and-enter.
Calgary police say they requested ASIRT examine how officers dealt with Crowshoe before his death and whether the subsequent missing person investigation was mishandled, officials said in a release.
ASIRT says the request was made to ensure full transparency and public confidence in the case and police actions.
Homicide detectives are continuing the investigation into Crowshoe’s death in the meantime.
ASIRT is called in to investigate incidents or complaints involving serious injury or death of any person, and matters of a serious or sensitive nature, that may have resulted from the actions of a police officer.