Man shot by Calgary police charged in N.W. incident
CBC News | Posted: May 29, 2013 2:27 AM | Last Updated: May 29, 2013
Calgary police have laid charges against a man who was shot in northwest Calgary after an elderly couple was struck by a vehicle.
Police responded to the Crowfoot Shopping Centre to investigate reports of a suspicious vehicle in the Bank of Montreal parking lot earlier this month.
When an officer approached the vehicle, it sped off and hit two elderly pedestrians — that's when the officer fired two shots, hitting the driver.
Police say the man was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but has since been released.
Jason Harron, 37, has been charged with hit and run causing bodily harm, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, flight from police causing bodily harm and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
His family said he had to undergo a number of surgeries while in the hospital, and will most likely have permanent disabilities.
They are also angry over comments made by the chief of police that defend the officer who opened fire.
"Normally when someone is shot, police conduct a thorough investigation and await the conclusion of that investigation before speaking out about what occurred," said Harron's lawyer Andrea Urquhart at the time.
Harron is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday.
Calgary police say they will have no further details on the case as the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating the officer-involved shooting. ASIRT will release its findings at a later date.