Bush Case Info, Leak, or Spin?

Thursday, November 10, 2005 03:30 AM

The Bush Family says it will wait for the results of the RCMP investigation into the death of 22 year old Ian Bush. The family is not alone in waiting for answers.

You may have a few questions lingering in your mind, just as I do, following the “leak “ from the RCMP to a BC TV reporter in which the reporter said Ian Bush, of Houston died after being shot in the head while involved in a struggle with an RCMP officer.

Deliberate spin? You can’t say for sure, but what is certain is the fact that the leaked information places the blame for Ian Bush’s death squarely with him. Unfortunately Bush can not be called upon to give his side of the story given the fact that the RCMP officer who is making those statements is the only one alive that was present.

As to the claim that Bush had him in a strangle hold, therefore threatening his life and forcing him to shoot, that gives the officer in question the opening that a police officer is only to use his or her weapon when a threat is made upon their life.

Again, leaked on purpose to portray Bush as the culprit.?

Remember the surveillance camera was either not working or was not turned on.

The officer in question (who is now on Administrative leave while he is investigated) was treated and released from hospital raising the issue of just how serious his life was threatened.

The final question however is , did the RCMP officer in question provoke Bush into becoming involved in a fight with the officer who is claming through the “ leaked information “ that he was sucker punched by Bush and that led to the altercation?

Quite apart from what is being unofficially said, the Press release clearly lays the blame on the death of Bush on Bush himself and that raises the matter of what is considered an unbiased investigation.

Bush is not going to be able to tell his side of the story and the RCMP to this point seem aware of that fact.

I’m Meisner and that is one man's opinion.

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Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2005 03:30 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: rock on November 10 2005 7:48 AM

Well said Chadder,in my opinion the RCMP are glorified tax collectors(speeding tickets and seat belt fines)There is currently about a dozen open murder investigations in PG and these guys want to hide at the side of the road and at the end of S turns and do speeding tickets and seat belt fines.Can they not go out and solve a real crime?
Rock

Posted by: Don Mackenzie on November 10 2005 9:20 AM

BEN..MARTY..CHADEMANDO...ROCK...1 out of 4 Uses your full name,that makes 3 of you COWARDS,IF YOUR GOING TO CALL DOWN THE PEOPLE USE YOUR REAL NAME LIKE ..BEN... If the Bad GUYS TRY TO ROB YOU I BET YOU PHONE THE RCMP THEY ARE NOT PERFECT,BUT THEY ARE aLL WE GOT!!!! WHO MADE YOU JURORS?????

Posted by: ammonra on November 10 2005 10:04 AM

Now there's a case of the pot calling the kettle black, if you read Mr. McKenzie's other posts on this subject, which also attempth to denigrate the victim. Nevertheless, he does have a point.

Clearly there are some serious problems with this event, and I certainly don't know enough about it to make an informed judgement. Since the family has, reportedly, decided to wait until the RCMP investigation is complete then perhaps patience is the best thing to practice. Unfortunately it sometimes takes a long time for these kinds of things to be finally resolved, but they usually are in the end, particularly when the bright light of press scrunity is shone on them. I hope Ben intends to keep us all informed of the progress on this issue as it unfolds over the next several months, and not give up just because it is old news. It is an important issue.

Incidentally, will there be an open inquest?

Posted by: ammonra on November 10 2005 10:07 AM

That should be "press scrutiny", of course. I have no idea what "scrunity" means. Apologies for spelling the name incorrectly.

Posted by: Elaine Macdonald on November 10 2005 10:23 AM

To all who post on this item. It is our understanding there can be no Coroner's inquest until all potential criminal investigations have run their course. On a further note, I do not want to pull comments, however, suggestions of lynching are over the line. We are all innocent until proven guilty, however, that doesn't change the fact there are real concerns about this incident and about the RCMP investigating their own. We will continue to follow this story.

Elaine Macdonald

Posted by: fedup on November 10 2005 2:40 PM

I think the biggest thing about this is the fact that unless Ian had a gun the officer used excessive force.Lets face it whom ever you are you can't just shot an unarmed man thier had to be a better way to control the situation.Police officers are supposed to be trianed to deal with violent people.

Posted by: who? on November 10 2005 3:03 PM

a question, how does someone locked in a strangle hold with the assailant behind him, then reach way back and shoot the assailant in the back of the head? that allegation seems pretty weak.

Posted by: SpeakingOut on November 10 2005 4:00 PM

When the officer made the decision to bring Ian Bush into custody, the officer was effectually accepting responsibility for Ian's well being. It is the responsibility of the officers to ensure the safety of their prisoners while they are in custody. There is no denying this. Police officers ARE trained to handle violent people, they are trained NOT to turn their backs on those they have in custody regardless of the temperament they are exhibiting. Officers are trained to protect each other from false claims of police brutality by ensuring they witness each other's interactions. An officer who goes it alone without some kind of backup, either another officer or at the very least a working camera, should have his motives questioned.

It is NOT possible to blame Ian Bush - he was shot in the back of the head......these are facts. Dare we all hope if a young man lost his life over the ego of a bully with a badge that justice will prevail.

Maybe they can do better than "Oops, our officer made a mistake, we are sorry that it cost this young man his life" too.

Posted by: snappi on November 10 2005 10:47 PM

I am in shock. I am having a really hard time understanding how something so tragic could happen, especially in a police station. What could young Ian Bush have done to deserve being shot....in the back of the head???
Why wasn't that incident recorded? Coincidence? Had Ian somehow angered the officer on some previous occassion maybe?
Whatever the case may be I have to agree with Ben, Ian Bush isn't going to be able to tell his side of the story is he? As for the investigation....pffft. I'm with you Ben.
A parents worst fear is losing a child, and in such a violent way makes it worse. But to have a child killed by the people who are supposed to protect us is horrifying. My heart breaks for the Bush family as well as Ian's friends. Lets pray that justice is done.

Posted by: rock on November 11 2005 8:08 AM

How is it that everyone seems to say he was shot in the BACK of the head?I don't think that this information would have been released.Is this a fact or just presumption?
Rock

Posted by: ammonra on November 11 2005 9:11 AM

It was mentioned in this article.

http://www.opinion250.com/blogs/news/archive/2005/11/06/3794.aspx

Posted by: rock on November 11 2005 1:01 PM

Ok thanx

Posted by: admin on November 11 2005 2:55 PM

to be absolutely accurate, Ian died of a single gunshot wound behind the left ear.

Posted by: gypsy on November 12 2005 4:41 PM

Well put, SpeakingOut.
The only significant word that keeps coming to my mind is "Murder."
To be shot in the back of the head one can only assume there was no attack at that point and time on the officer involved.
I have heard of officer's drawing their guns over a simple thing as a person objecting to finger printing.
The officer involved in this incident must be having trouble sleeping.
Killing this young man was a horrendous act of unnecessary violence, and this officer took it to the absolute extreme.
The police investigating the police is a joke.
It will be difficult to obtain the truth-will it not??
Only one witness left to testify--the cop who killed.
Believe him or not-that is the question!!!

Posted by: snappi on November 14 2005 9:13 AM

Ditto Gypsy!