Page A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 31, 1993 RCMP acted correctly in death of Kispiox man | TERRACE. — A coroner's jury has exonerated RCMP officers wha shot and killed a 38-year-old schizophrenic man in Kispiox last October. Keith Edward Stokes was gunned down when he came out of the family home, fired ‘a rifle shot in the air and moved toward RCMP officers ringing the house. The jury found the RCMP’s northwest Emergency Response Team (ERT) didn’t use all the in- formation available to it relating to the layout of the Stokes family farm. Two major factors that led to the shooting came out inevidence given by officers at last week’s coroner’s inquest. RCMP officers who surrounded the house just after midnight Oct. 11 failed to spot'a gate through which Stokes. exited, surprising officers and forcing them to shoot him. And the only officer who saw him moving toward the gate in time to warn the others found his radio equipment had failed and was unable to transmit. “Members on site handled themselves in an exemplary man- ner under the circumstances,”* the jury concluded. For Stokes, the incident was his worst nightmare come to life, Dr. Paul Chabun _ testified Stokes was diagnosed as a “paranoid-type’’ schizophrenic who feared the police would come to take him away. Stokes, who had stopped taking his medication, vowed he would shoot anyone who came to take him back to the hospital. Chabun said he believed people were .communicaling with him mentaily, and that his television had been altered to record his thoughts. Stokes — frequently *voices’? — often from God. Alter an argument with family members and a shot fired at one of them, the RCMP’s Emergency Response Team was called out to arrest Stokes. Inspector Lawrence Yeske, the ERT commander, sald police had no plans to storm the house or use deadly force. ‘The plan was we’d wait him out as long as we had to,” he said. Once the 14 officers were in their positions, an RCMP negoti- ator began calling out to Stokes from the woodshed about 50 metres from the house. Stokes got dressed, got his gun and appeared on the porch, wit- Kemano hearings being held next — Monday in Kitimat © TERRACE — The commission probing the Kemano Completion Project will hold hearings ‘in Kitimat April 5. The B.C. Utilities Commission _ has released its schedule for com- munity meetings. It also includes mecting dates in Prince George on April 2 and Fort Fraser on April 3. . The Kitimat meeting. will talce place at River Lodge Community Centre from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone planning to make presentations to. the commission eveee CET en ce BYR SETHE HS one wasn? The company had halted con- Should wnauify, commission, secre; lary Rob Pellatt al 1-800-663- 1385 or fax to - 660-1102 by March 31. A fourth commissioner has also been appointed to the panel prob- ing KCP. Alfred Scow, a former provin- cial court judge and mediator, was named recently by Premier, Mike Harcourt. - He joins Lorna Barr, Peter Larkin and Alistair McVey on the B.C. Utilities Commission’s pub- lic review of the project The review was announced Jan. 19. The panei will carry out pub- lic hearings and is to forward recommendations to Victoria by Sept. 30. ’ Alcan says it will ‘Tot resume construction on the billion-dollar - hydroelectric project because the provincial Teview creates new uo: struction in the spring of 1991 after a successful legal challenge by opponents of the project. But that challenge failed in January after the Supreme Court refused to hear a further appeal of the , case. anticipated. heard nesses testified. He fired one shot in the air and then stepped down off the porch, out of sight from the only officer in view. He moved quickly through the gate -— which police were un- aware existed — and approached the officers at the woodshed from a ‘direction they had not “T thought I told you guys {o gel off my'property,”’ Stokes told the officers, brandishing the gun. Seconds Jater he was dead, shot four times in the head and chest. _ Yeske defended the actions of the officers. “It was a dangerous situation,’ he said, ‘If you firmly believe your life is in danger, you defend yourself.” “It happened very quickly,” added Sgt. Jemy Whiting who was also on the scene. ’ The jury recommended: « That all ERT equipment mect ..at your house? It’s time to call your Welcome Wagon hostess, She will bring congratu- ‘lations and gifts for the family and the NEW - BABY! fon Phone Elaine 635-3018 Phone Diana 638-8576 SINCE 1930 Royal Canadian Legion Branch 13 - Terrace i | Goa - — | FINEST STEAK IN TOWN|/ First Friday of Every Month Juicy steak - baked potato - ‘salad. 8 00 pm servings Members & Guests Welcome | See You There! Music Every Weekend. Outrageous Nachos Potato, Skins. ~-" Chicken Strips $3. 95 - “AF TER 5 ” _ WINDDO WN —. in‘Augie’s Lounge Available from 4 till 8: p.m. 2 for 1 Appetizers _ Three Cheese Garlic Bread _Deep Fried Mozzarella: . ‘Popcom Shrimp $6. 95 till: May 1. Piano Stylings by - Litto Wed., 6' td 11. p. m. Thurs.-Sat. Tto12 pm. Car Care Clinic © ; Here's an opportunity to learn about cars and trucks. ‘What | | makes them go and keeps them going. | ("Phone Gimtan aas-2044 ) quality specifications. * There be sufficient radios for . each ERT. * RCMP consider a means of recording all radio traffic and recording times of each transmis- sion. « A radio technician or suitably trained assistant. be on site to ensure radio equipment is in op- eration. « That top quality equipment should be made available to pro- mote safety. * That a protocol be established between RCMP and local health professionals. The jury also recommended the ministry of health improve ser- vices in rernole areas such as the Hazeltons to include education for family members, physicians, RCMP and the community on mental health to ensure ireatment for the long term mental health of the client. Kids & Tobacco it's a crime. 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