Off-duty RCMP officer faces drunk driving charge in fatal B.C. motorcycle crash

12 hours ago

VANCOUVER, B.C. — In a bizarre twist to a tragic story, a B.C. RCMP officer accused in a fatal drunk driving accident was involved in the death of a man after he was shocked by RCMP Tasers at Vancouver's airport.

The officer, whose name was not released, is now a member of the RCMP's Olympic Integrated Security Unit, which is preparing security for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

He was off duty on Saturday night when the accident occurred in suburban Delta, B.C.

Police said Orion Hutchinson, 21, was catapulted from his motorcycle when hit by a Jeep. He died at the accident scene.

Police say the driver of the Jeep now faces charges of impaired driving causing death and having a blood alcohol level exceeding the .08 legal limit.

RCMP Sgt. Tim Shields confirmed Tuesday that the officer was one of four RCMP members involved in the police confrontation with Robert Dziekanski last October at Vancouver International Airport.

Officers used a Taser to subdue an agitated Dziekanski and he died on the floor of the airport.

Video of the incident released after the death created a public outcry and prompted several investigations into police use of stun guns.

Police emails obtained later by The Canadian Press indicated threats were made toward the officers involved and their families. The three other members involved in the incident remain on active duty at undisclosed locations.

Shields said the accused officer has been suspended with pay. He said the officer is devastated at the turn of events over the weekend.

Shields issued a public statement to the family of the young man killed on behalf of RCMP members and employees across Canada.

"This is the most unimaginable heartbreak ever and we are sick about it," he told reporters at a hastily-called news conference Tuesday.

"The officer involved is predictably devastated as we are."

The officer's name, rank, age or experience isn't being released until he makes his first appearance in court, scheduled for Jan. 15, and is formally charged.

Walter Kosteckyj, the lawyer for Dziekanski's mother Zofia Cisowski, said he has had concerns that police take on a "protectionist" attitude when one of their own is involved.

But Shields said the RCMP will have absolutely no involvement in the criminal investigation.

Delta Police Const. Paul Eisenzimmer said no more information will be released about the crash and even he can't look up the file because it has been sealed.

"We want to present the most honest package to the prosecutor as possible.... so that the file is precise and accurate and goes to the court as such," he said in an interview.

Eisenzimmer said the case is being treated just like any other impaired driving causing death investigation.

He said the Delta police department will work with Crown counsel to determine if additional charges should be laid.

RCMP will conduct their own internal review, or a code of conduct investigation.

"All the events that led up to this tragedy will be analyzed in both the criminal and code of conduct investigation," Shields said.

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