RCMP Under Cross Examination at Matters Inquest
Wednesday, October 16, 2013 @ 4:48 PM
Prince George, B.C.- Inspector Brad Anderson resumed his testimony today at the inquest into the death of Greg Matters answering questions put to him by the Matters’ family lawyer, Cameron Ward.
Ward reiterated an earlier point, that the collision between the brothers on Sept. 9, 2012, the one that began the series of events ending in the death of Matters, was a relatively minor incident that wasn’t thoroughly investigated.
Ward showed photos of the silver Suzuki which seemed layered in dents, saying Trevor described it as a piece of junk, voicing his doubt that all the dents were caused during the brothers’ collision. He also pointed out no one was injured during the collision.
When asked if the collision was on the low end of the continuum on the dangerous driving scale, Inspector Anderson disagreed. The Inspector said the collision was not the only factor he took into consideration when he updated Supt. Eric Stubbs, the city’s top cop and the officer in charge of deploying the Emergency Response Team.
Inspector Anderson also denied his advice was dependent on Matters being listed in the CAD Hazard RCMP data base, a program that red flags people and addresses that are potentially dangerous.
He further disagreed when Ward downplayed the email threats that landed Matters in trouble in the first place. "My knowledge of Greg Matters was he threatened to kill people," he said.
The urgency of the event was the Matters’ farm was not completely contained, and threats had been made against Trevor.
A 25 minute tape of the final conversation between Anderson, who acted as lead negotiator, was played though only Anderson’s voice was recorded, since these officers were preparing to move to the command centre for the ERT, which has the capacity to record.
The recording confirmed much of Anderson’s testimony.
After some wrangling between councillors, Ward was allowed to proceed.
He asked if Anderson considered the operation a success, Anderson replied it was his job to bring him in. Since he didn’t do that, he said it was not a success to him.
Cpl. Claudette Garcia took the stand next.
A professional negotiator with the police, she was called to provide her services at 2:30, Sept. 12, 2012.
Provided with notes on the case and following a meeting, a decision was made to leave Anderson, who had developed a rapport with Matters, as lead negotiator. Her job would be to work with Lorraine Matters, who was being detained at the Prince George detachment. Garcia was to calm her down and obtain as much relevant information about her son as possible.
Ward questioned Garcia about why Lorraine wasn’t allowed to work with them and speak to her son. Citing time and training, Garcia shared two stories where that was done, one a success, the other a failure.
Weeping, she said, "It is never a decision you make lightly."
The inquest continues.
*****
Editor’s note:
We would like to remind readers the purpose of a Coroner’s inquest is to determine how a person died, and to make recommendations to, hopefully, prevent a similar tragedy. It is clear those who are posting on this subject are not able to do so without making accusations and laying blame. The IIO did investigate this incident, and determined there was no basis to refer the case to Crown for possible criminal charges. So, because too many continue to play the "blame game" the privilege of commenting has been withdrawn and will remain so until the Coroner’s Jury returns with it’s final determination.
Elaine Macdonald
Comments
Where did all the haters go?
uppercandian … shush … let sleeping dogs lie
You guys think this is a joke! Sad sad couple of individuals.
This whole situation was poorly planned and that joke of an ERT team don’t even have the grounding of basic small unit tactics. A sad sad situation.
Notice only one side of the conversation is heard. Seems to be a continuing theme here of the lack of any corroborating evidence.
Vancouver airport incident would have had a different outcome if not for video. The fellow who got kicked in the head by a hero, that would have also been a different outcome if not for video. Ian Bush killing the video just happened to be off and the cop there was coached by some fixer. Questionable shooting in Williams lake, we only get one side of the story, and I say story. Seems to be a theme running here.
Some police trainer at the justice institute telling the police to be careful as everyone has cameras. What the hell.
The police seem to think they are an entity into themselves only. That is a sad third world state of affairs.
Greg was killed by some poorly trained operator who most likely spent more time looking at his GI joe outfit in the mirror than training. Heck soldiers don’t even have that much gear. The police bunker must be full of catalogs of sort.
Gregs mother being arrested because she was excited well ya she most likely new going by past practice her son was going to be killed. Garcia cry me a river.
Yes Anderson this was a tragic tragic incompetent failure.
The RCMP used to be one of the finest police forces in the world. They have used up that reputation a long time ago.
Sadly, they are no longer respected by vast numbers of the population and incidents like this only add fuel to the fire.
Admittedly, being a policeman is a difficult job. But difficulty in any employment should never be an excuse for not doing it well.
Being an air-traffic controller is a high-stress, difficult job. But who would allow that as a defence for a controller having airliners crash on take-off and landings on a more or less regular basis while he is on shift?
Following the articles that have been written in the news on the death of Mr. G Matters, I am having trouble with the small axe being used as a weapon of defense by Greg, when in fact it has been written in earliier news reports that he was shot in the back? This to me is a very damaging piece of evidence and is it possible that when Greg turned his back to the ERT officers, the only threat to the ERT could have been was that the suspect was going to be getting away? Yes Mr. Anderson this was a failed operation, your well trained officers should of been told to stand down and to dropped there weapons.
The police has had the evidence for a year now. All they have to do is have story line to back up the evidence, with a few correctly positioned words at the hearing, and they twist the evidence into their favor.
Greg Matters had a small axe. against probably ten trained ERT with rifles with scopes. he should have been maimed by being shot in the leg. Not in the back as reported. When a group of trained ERT has that much control over a situation, is it their responsibility to decide Gregs final fate by blowing his heart out of his chest. I would not think so.
Reopen the case which clears them of any wrong doing, that will get the ERT squirming.
Ahhh the Scurge in RED…..they are trained to LIE too ya no…..ain’t that rite JD…
Threats have been made to Trevor…. From whom, Greg. If he had a small axe. Keep Trevor out of a throwing range of the axe. If he had a gun, he would not have come out with an axe.
If the intent was to bring him in alive, yes the mission was a failure. If the intent was to permanently deal with Greg Matters, than it was success to the ERT.
Did he actually have an axe in his hand is the question. I think with the amount of story twisting they have been doing, it would not surprise me if the axe was planted. Greg had plans for the future, he was planning to go to post secondary. Its not as if he had no dreams of a better life. He was moving forward, I doubt he would be suicidal. So, even if he was suicidal, it was known to ERT of his condition, so why not bring him in on a stretcher for treatment.
Police force has gone down hill ever since they started hiring politically correct, rather than who is best for the job.
Again and again, I will always to refer to the late Fred Quilt in Williams Lake (Google him and his fate). Please note the date and shake your head and say to yourself, “Nothing changes. Just the date”. “A pox on the RCMP”, I say, who can’t shake this “habit” of theirs during this next generation.
There are more than enough critics of the RCMP, but I sure wouldn’t want their job.
Having to make a split decision based on varying levels of information, which if things turn out wrong, is second guessed to the extreme degree. Sounds like a no-win situation if I’ve ever seen it.
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