Charges considered against cop in police pursuit

KELOWNA – Crown prosecutors are considering charges against a local RCMP officer who may be partly responsible for seriously injuring a paper carrier during a police pursuit last year.

The Independent Investigations Office has completed its review of police actions from Dec. 6, 2013. Police pursued a fleeing vehicle that night that ended when it hit and seriously injuired Steve Kania, 41, who was delivering newspapers. The investigators sent the report to Crown earlier this month after suspecting a criminal offence may have been committed by police.

"In examining the evidence, (the office) determined that an officer may have committed an offence,” the office said in a release.

Nathan Fahl, 24, was originally charged with six offences, including dangerous and impaired driving causing harm and threatening to use a weapon, but Fahl maintained he was not the driver. On June 12 charges were shifted onto another man who was also in the car at the time.

Don Brodie admitted to Global Okanagan he was driving and alleges police forced him off the road and into the path of Kania. He says police shot at him as well. Brodie now faces several charges including criminal negligence. Two other passengers, Dillon Robert Sams and Lisa Roseanne Carlisle, have also been charged with obstructing police.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.