On June 3, 2019 at approximately 8:00 AM members of the Medicine Hat Police Service responded a residence on Anson Ave SW for a report of a male breaking into a home, armed with edged weapons.

Upon police arrival, the suspect confronted officers with the weapons and demanded that police shoot him. Crisis negotiations were initiated with the male, who continued to challenge police before a Taser and one round of the Arwen Ace was deployed to temporarily incapacitate the male. The suspect began to fight and resist as police executed his arrest. The suspect was taken into custody by several officers, and then transported to hospital for assessment and treatment of his injuries.

The male will be held in police custody to await a judicial interim bail hearing on the following changes; Forcible Entry, Possess Weapon Dangerous, Assault, Forcible Confinement, Utter Threats, Mischief and Resist Arrest.

The matter remains under investigations, but has determined that the resident of the home, who has been provided with support from Victim Services, has a previous relationship with the male.

This type of crisis could have lead to a potential lethal force confrontation for police. In 2018, the MHPS initiated the Patrol Arwen-Ace Program to equip front line officers with this tool as another force option before resorting to a firearm. Today’s event is a great example of how the Arwen Ace force option prevented the need to utilize a firearm to stop the threat.

Media Contact

S/Sgt Fraser
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461