New charges against man shot by Medicine Hat police in 2013

By Mo Cranker on May 25, 2017.

prevell@medicinehatnews.com
Twitter: MHNprevell

New charges have been laid against a former Brooks peace officer and British soldier sentenced to two years house arrest over a 2013 incident that culminated in Medicine Hat police shooting him multiple times.

Michael John Carolan appeared before the court in Medicine Hat by CCTV from the Calgary Remand Centre Thursday, over new charges that include impersonating a police officer, using a an article of uniform/equipment to cause persons to believe he was an officer, possessing a dangerous weapon, possessing body armour and breaching the court order surrounding the sentence he is currently serving.

Carolan was arrested by Strathmore RCMP, and his defence counsel stated that the plan is to have the charges waived to Medicine Hat to enter guilty pleas.
Carolan was sentenced in August 2016 to two years less a day of a conditional sentence order (CSO) and two years probation after pleading guilty to five counts of assaulting a peace officer by pointing a firearm.

These charges stem from a Sept. 2013 incident where police responded to a 911 call made by Carolan from his Ross Glen residence.

Carolan refused to follow instructions to drop his gun, resulting in police shooting him three times, twice in the back and once in the face. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team determined the shooting was justified.

During this sentencing, the court heard details on Carolan’s history, including his military service, PTSD and other mental health issues. In giving the CSO sentence, Judge Gordon Krinke said at the time that he felt satisfied Carolan would not endanger the community. Until this sentence, Carolan had spent two-and-a-half years on conditions of release with no breaches. He was also receiving psychiatric treatment and other supports. His only previous encounter with the law was a suicide attempt made while driving a vehicle while intoxicated.

Due to these new charges, there is the possibility that Carolan’s current sentence will be collapsed and he will have to serve it in jail.

Carolan has been denied bail on these new charges. His next appearance will be June 21, in person, at the Medicine Hat courthouse.

It was requested that Judge Krinke be the judge to hear the guilty plea for these new charges, as he was the judge who heard the original case so knows Carolan’s background.

As well, the Crown will be ensuring that the prosecutor who dealt with the original file is also on hand.

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