Former Thorold defensemen wounded in shootout

[Port hockey1]

Jake Braun, who played a few seasons with Thorold was one of two cops wounded after a shootout in Fenwick last year.

Shooter ambushed cops in hallway, report says

By Bill Sawchuk, St. Catharines Standard
Thursday, July 28, 2016 6:39:56 EDT PM


The man who shot two Niagara Regional Police officers last October left his apartment with his hands up before pulling a concealed handgun from his waistband and opening fire, according to a report.

The province’s Special Investigations Unit released its findings of the dramatic events Thursday after concluding its investigation this week.

The incident occurred in a hallway of a Fenwick apartment building on Canboro Road on Oct. 10, 2015.

Both officers and the man were wounded.

The Special Investigations Unit is Ontario’s civilian oversight agency responsible for investigating circumstances involving police that result in death or serious injury.

The SIU cleared all the officers involved of any wrongdoing.

“Consider the scene,” said Joseph Martin, the SIU’s acting director. “These were tight quarters and the officers had little to no benefit of distance or cover when the man left his apartment, acted as if he was surrendering and then drew a concealed handgun and started firing.

“The two witness officers, in particular, were severely exposed, being closest to the man and were shot at point blank range before they were able to react.”

The incident began at about 8 p.m. when police received a call concerning a depressed and suicidal 28-year-old man, who was in possession of several firearms.

The call indicated he might have bomb-making material.

The officers are listed in the report as Officer No. 1 and Officer No. 2. After the other residents of the third floor were evacuated, two other officers took up positions at either end of the hallway.

Officer No. 1 is believed to be Const. Neal Ridley. Officer No. 2 is believed to be Const. Jake Braun.

The man was identified by neighbours as Corey Richardson. He had recently broken up with his girlfriend, they said at the time of the shooting.

Attempts to reach Richardson were unsuccessful.

Police have not confirmed that Richardson was involved in the incident.

Richardson has not been charged and police have not identified a suspect, but the shooting remains under criminal investigation by the NRP’s homicide unit. They aren’t releasing any more information about their investigation at this time.

The SIU reported that as the officers waited for the arrival of the NRP’s tactical unit, the man stepped out of his apartment into the hallway.

He quickly re-entered the apartment and closed the door. In the brief moment when the door was opened, the officers saw he indeed had several long guns, according to the report.

Ridley spoke to the man through the door. After several minutes of conversation, Ridley holstered his firearm and raised his hands in front of the man’s peep-hole to assure him he meant no harm. The man agreed to leave his apartment.

When the man stepped out a few minutes later, he had his hands up. It appeared he was surrendering peacefully.

As he took several steps in the direction of the officers, he pulled a handgun from his waistband and started shooting, according to the report. The SIU said he fired nine shots.

The report said Ridley was struck and fell to the floor. The bullet passed through his shoulder and exited through his neck. Ridley fired one shot at the man.

Braun attempted to shoot at the man, but his rifle jammed before discharging any rounds.

Two other officers at the end of the hallway returned fire, and man was struck “and incapacitated,” the report said. The officers fired seven shots in all.

Ridley and the man were rushed to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. Each survived. Braun was wounded in the foot.

Ridley is an eight-year member of the force and recipient of awards in 2013 and 2014 for his commitment to safer communities through his role as a school resource officer.

Braun is a five-year member of the force and recipient of the Ontario Police College student of the year award (2011).

“The main point that has been reiterated by the SIU investigation is the heroic effort displayed by the officers that night,” said Cliff Priest, president of the Niagara Region Police Association. “It is very clear, the officer that suffered the most severe and potentially fatal injuries, tried to de-escalate the event to the point of putting his gun away.

“It is a very traumatic and stressful situation for these officers. They were shot at. They shot back. It has a lasting effect on everyone involved. It is something that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

“Most of us, thank God, have never had to do it, and we hope we never will. We know that there is the potential for this on every call we go on. We had some information about weapons, but we get these calls all the time.

“We never know what is on the other side of the door when we knock.”

bsawchuk@postmedia.com

SIDEBARD

The province’s Special Investigations Unit took 290 days to wrap up its investigation of the shootout at a Fenwick apartment building that left two officers and a man wounded.

“The length of each investigation varies and depends on a number of factors, including how long it takes to gather and analyze evidence,” said Jason Gennaro, a spokesman for the SIU. “In many instances, the unit must also await receipt of reports from outside organizations — for example the Centre of Forensic Sciences or from the Coroner’s Office.”

SIU detailed the steps the unit took in its investigation.

The unit assigned seven investigators and three forensic investigators to the incident.

As is their legal right, both subject officers declined to participate in an SIU interview and did not provide a copy of their duty notes, he said.

“We are happy with the outcome of the investigation,” said Cliff Priest, president of the Niagara Region Police Association. “We are not happy with the length of time it took for the report to be issued. We know the investigation was over a while ago but it was caught up in red tape.”

Evidence gathered by the SIU included interviews with 18 civilians and 13 witness officers (including two officers who were present throughout the entire incident and shooting) and a review of their duty notes.

It also included a review of the duty notes of a further three witness officers; a scene examination; police communication recordings; cell phone records; forensic analysis of the firearms, shell cases, and bullets fragments and medical evidence.

[Port hockey1]

Ironically, the shooter was a former volunteer of the Port Colborne Sailors Jr.B hockey club...