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Trial hears Manitoba Mountie made disastrous tactical decision before shooting

Jun 25, 2019 | 2:12 PM

THOMPSON, Man. — An expert in police use of force testified an RCMP officer in northern Manitoba made a disastrous tactical decision to step in front a vehicle before he shot the driver.

Const. Abram Letkeman is on trial for the 2015 death of Steven Campbell, who was behind the wheel of a Jeep that the officer had tried to pull over for erratic driving.

At the time of the shooting, police said the Jeep came to a stop after a brief chase and when Letkeman approached the vehicle, it suddenly accelerated and hit the officer, prompting him to fire.

Christopher Butler, a retired Calgary police inspector, told court it was a major error for the officer to step in front of the Jeep and Letkeman put himself in jeopardy.