Serious Incident Response Team locates potential witness to P.A. shooting

Saskatchewan’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) has located a possible witness to a recent police shooting in Prince Albert.

The team issued a media release early Friday saying it was seeking the witness, but then issued a second release in the afternoon saying the person had been found.

On Jan. 16, a Prince Albert police officer was conducting an investigation on South Industrial Drive when the officer encountered 34-year-old Jonathon Gardiner, a resident of of Île-à-la-Crosse.

“A short foot pursuit ensued, and a confrontation occurred during which one member of the PAPS discharged their service pistol, striking (Gardiner),” SIRT said in a statement.

“PAPS members provided first aid until EMS arrived. EMS attended the scene and provided care to the man before transporting him to hospital, where he was later declared deceased.”

A weapon was recovered from the scene, SIRT noted.

After issuing a call for any video evidence collected in the area and reviewing footage, SIRT said a potential witness had been identified.

The Serious Incident Response Team became operational at the start of January, with a mandate to investigate cases where on- or off-duty police officers are accused of causing a serious injury, death, sexual assault or “interpersonal violence.”

A final report on Gardiner’s shooting will be made public within 90 days of the investigation’s conclusion, SIRT noted.

— With files from paNOW