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CALGARY — Confronted by a shotgun-wielding suspect, a veteran cop had no choice but to shoot him dead, an investigation into the May 2009 shooting has ruled.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team Monday said Calgary police Sgt. Andrew Jorgensen was justified in firing three shots from his C-8 assault rifle into Melvin Donald Vanhouwe, 49, who pointed a sawed-off shotgun at the officer after a hostage fled a southwest home on May 24, 2009.
ASIRT Executive Director Clifton Purvis said Vanhouwe left the residence just 41 seconds after his 19-year-old hostage escaped but failed to respond when cops challenged him by shouting: “City police. Show me your hands.”
Instead he levelled the loaded and unregistered 12-gauge at officers and was shot.
“I am satisfied and I have determined the Calgary police tactical officer was justified in shooting Mr. Vanhouwe,” Purvis said.
“No charges will be laid against this police officer.”
The medical examiner determined Vanhouwe’s blood-alcohol level was more than four times the legal limit when he was fatally shot.
Calgary Police Service Supt. Richard Hinse said Jorgensen, a 27-year veteran of the force including a decade on the elite TAC team, has been back on the job since serving a required 30-day administrative leave following the shooting.
“We’re satisfied with the outcome — this was an incident that evolved very quickly driven by Mr. Vanhouwe,” he said.
“Every single day an officer goes out he has to take appropriate action to protect the public.”
Now in its third year of operation, the independent unit has investigated 55 incidents including a dozen officer involved shootings throughout the province.
Of those, seven involved Calgary officers and of the six fatal officer involved shootings, half were in Calgary.
shawn.logan@sunmedia.ca