Conklin man charged for assaulting RCMP

Written by RCMP press release
Wednesday, 15 February 2012 07:51

Conklin man charged for assaulting RCMP

Charges have been laid in relation to the shooting that occurred in Conklin last month. On Feb. 10, Wood Buffalo RCMP charged 33-year-old Ray Charles Pruden of Conklin, with several offences including Assault on a

Police Officer with a weapon, as well as firearms related offenses. The accused has been released from custody and is to appear in court on March 7.

Background (Released January 9, 2012)
On Sunday, January 8, 2012, at 11:10 p.m. Fort McMurray RCMP received a call from a citizen who claimed to have heard gunshots coming from a residence in Conklin, Alberta, (approximately 170 kms south of Fort McMurray). Four responding RCMP officers arrived on the scene at 11:52 p.m., where they were confronted by an armed man exiting the home. That individual was shot and wounded by police. He was immediately transported to hospital by Emergency Medical Services (EMS), where he is being treated for his injuries. Police seized a 30-30 lever action rifle at the scene.

Three other people at the residence were taken into custody for questioning. One of them was treated on scene by EMS for minor injuries resulting from the use of a Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW), which police employed in restraining him.

“The goal of every front-line officer is to resolve threats to public safety without the use of force. Unfortunately, given the unpredictable and dangerous nature of police work, that doesn’t always happen,” said Deputy Commissioner Dale McGowan, Commanding Officer of “K” Division RCMP. “The RCMP welcomes the independent review of this incident and will cooperate fully with ASIRT investigators.”

The RCMP has reported the incident to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), an independent body established by Alberta’s Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security with a mandate to investigate incidents or complaints involving serious injury or death of any person, and matters of a serious or sensitive nature, that may have resulted from the actions of a police officer. The RCMP has secured the scene pending the arrival of ASIRT investigators.

If you have information about this, or any other crime(s), please call the Wood Buffalo RCMP at (780) 788-4000, or if you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1.800.222.8477 (TIPS), by internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by SMS (check your local Crime Stoppers [www.crimestoppers.ab.ca] for instructions on how to do).  You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers, and if you provide information to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest(s), the recovery of stolen property, and/or a seizure of illicit drugs, you may be eligible for a cash reward.