Calls for change in justice system
Posted Oct 1, 2010 7:21 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Calgary family of a hit-and-run victim is outraged after finding out the man shot by police earlier this week may be the same man who ran down and killed two people a few years ago.
Police shot a man twice on Wednesday in the northeast community of Bridgeland, after the driver allegedly threatened an officer with a vehicle.
Reports say the suspect is Louis Bear.
Bear hit and killed two men in August 2007 outside a Calgary night club.
He was sentenced to four years in jail, but because of time already served he was released immediately.
The sister of one of the victims says the justice system failed by giving Bear a slap on the wrist and letting him out too early.
She tells The Calgary Sun she is devastated to hear he may be involved in another crime.
Calgary’s police chief won’t address the police-involved shooting, but says he does want to see changes in the sentencing process in the justice system.
“Too often the jails are filled with folks who shouldn’t be in jail,” Police Chief Rick Hanson tells CTV. “There are health issues; there are addictions issues and mental health issues. We can make lots of room in the jails to keep the real serious offenders in there longer.”
To this point, police have not named the suspect in their case and no charges have been laid.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is investigating. That’s the body responsible for investigating serious injury or death incidents involving police.
