A London police officer told a coroner’s inquest jury Tuesday that what started as a routine response to a reported break-and-enter quickly escalated, resulting in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Justin Bourassa.
Const. Joshua Ryan’s testimony is part of the week-long mandatory inquest investigating the details surrounding Bourassa’s death. A jury made up of five community members may offer recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
Ryan mentioned that it was overcast but not too cold in downtown London early on Oct. 28, during his 12-hour patrol shift alongside Const. Ryan Hendrick. At about 3:45 a. m., they received information over the police radio about an attempted break-in near St. George and Mill streets in the downtown area.
As they approached, he spotted Bourassa jogging across nearby Richmond Street towards a path between two businesses.
The officers followed Bourassa, and Ryan stepped out of their vehicle, informing him that he would be handcuffing and patting him down since he matched the description of someone involved in the nearby incident.
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Police cordoned off a section of sidewalk on Richmond Street, near Pall Mall Street, in October 2021, while investigating the police shooting death of Justin Bourassa. (Andrew Lupton/CBC)
Ryan described how initially, Bourassa seemed “dull and vacant,” but when Ryan reached for his handcuffs and Hendrick got out of the car, Bourassa turned around sharply, leading to a struggle involving all three men which ended up as a “dogpile” on the ground.
This brief encounter lasted less than two minutes during which Bourassa managed to wrap his hands around Hendrick’s neck using what Ryan characterized as a “rear-naked chokehold.”
“I can see [Hendrick] gasping for air. I can see his eyes are glossing over. I can see he’s trying to say something, scream, talk, ask for help,” he said.
The jury heard from London police Sgt. Kevin Easton yesterday that such jiu-jitsu chokeholds can be deadly and might render someone unconscious within six seconds.
Ryan noted that he considered various use-of-force options like deploying a taser or baton but concluded there was only one effective choice available at that moment.
“The only thing important to me now is that PC Hendrick doesn’t die,” he said.
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Justin Bourassa, 29, was fatally shot by London police in October 2021. An inquest into the circumstances of his death started Monday and is expected to last a week. (Submitted by Lorraine Sabourin Bourassa)
“I removed my firearm from my holster, reached out with my left hand to place it on [Hendrick’s] left cheek and ear, reached out with my right hand to find what I believe is centre mass on Mr. Bourassa’s body and fired.”
Police attempted life-saving measures until paramedics arrived; however, Bourassa later died at the hospital.
A forensic pathologist named Dr. Edward Tweedie conducted Bourassa’s post-mortem examination and informed jurors on Monday that his death resulted from a gunshot wound to the neck while toxicology tests revealed no alcohol present in his system.
The jury learned Monday that Bourassa had no involvement with any break-in attempt whatsoever.
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Police encountered Justin Bourassa when he was walking on Richmond Street from close proximity to Mill Street toward an adjacent small pathway between two businesses across from him.(Andrew Lupton/CBC)
He indicated utilizing a taser could cause muscular contraction which might tighten someone’s grip around another person’s neck even further.
“If you had your hand around two water bottles and somebody used [a taser] on you , you’d end up squeezing those bottles harder,” he remarked. “It would’ve either caused death or worsened things considerably.”
When inquiry counsel Phil Tsui asked if there were any suggestions he’d like proposed after this investigation ends , Ryan shared with jurors how nothing appeared different could’ve been done that day.
“I’ve had five years reflecting upon this situation , yet I don’t believe I have anything worthwhile worth suggesting,” Ryan commented.
“I stand tall stating October 28 wasn’t intended nor planned towards ending fatally. It simply unfolded as such.”
The inquiry will resume Wednesday at nine-thirty AM featuring testimonies from Hendrick.
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Why not use pepper spray or baton?
Ryan faced numerous questions from different counsel members and jurors regarding other force options available on his belt at that time like pepper spray or tasers. “These tools no longer become viable options when a subject puts an officer into a rear-naked hold with intent to kill or has access to weapons or just commits assault,” he stated. Ryan explained how he’d quickly assessed several alternatives before concluding pepper spray likely wouldn’t affect Bourassa while using a baton could risk hitting Hendrick inadvertently.Source link
