Thompson RCMP’s use of a “less lethal” firearm that cut the leg of a man they were attempting to subdue Oct. 17 is being investigated by a police watchdog agency.
Police responded to a call about a man with a knife and attempted to get him to give up his weapon. When he refused, they used a “less lethal” firearm that caused a small laceration to the man’s leg. The man was eventually subdued and taken into custody before being driven to Thompson General Hospital for treatment.
Because there was an injury caused by the discharge of a firearm, the incident must be reviewed by the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) of Manitoba, which investigates serious incidents involving on- and off-duty police officers in the province.
“Less lethal” firearms is a category that includes guns that fire rubber bullets or beanbags.
