Ontario gunsmith shot and killed by police

Some interesting info about reason for the search warrant.

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“Firearms had been recovered in two separate police investigations, including a kidnapping, that were registered to a firearms business owned by the Complainant,” Martino’s report reads. “In neither case had the Complainant, a gunsmith, reported the firearms stolen or missing, and thus it was suspected that he or an associate had illegally traded in firearms.”

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https://torontosun.com/pmn/news-pmn/...rio-gunsmith?r

And this;

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The whole interaction lasted between five and 10 seconds, the report said. The gun Kotanko was holding wasn't operable at the time, according to the report, but the officer who pulled the trigger wouldn't have known that, according to Martino.
The report states police called for a Norfolk County ambulance as they tried to keep Kotanko alive. The ambulance arrived about 10 minutes later. The family has previously stated police came with their own ambulance.

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamil...-siu-1.6371860

I would think there is a definite need for an inquest or inquiry of some sort.

The fox explaining what really happened to the chicken.
Years ago, had a car with 4 ways FLY up and by me on the 401 followed by a police car. They turned off at #41, from the overpass I saw the car go south on 41, pull a U turn and start heading north. A cop car came flying off the 401 ramp and T-boned the car,sending it into the ditch and justified as far as I was concerned to end a high-speed chase.
The rub here was the police and media reported that the stolen car rammed the police car and was charged for this as well. I have never seen anyone ram a vehicle with their drivers side door before but I guess it is the same thing as they say about wars, "the victor writes the history books".
I expected this SIU report to start the whitewash and I am not surprised with the result.
Hardwood flooring companies are going to see a slowdown in sales over the next few years as we are going to need more carpets laid so as to sweep this twisted attempt at perverting justice under it.
John

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Originally Posted by delmer

Some interesting info about reason for the search warrant.

https://torontosun.com/pmn/news-pmn/...rio-gunsmith?r

And this;

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamil...-siu-1.6371860

I would think there is a definite need for an inquest or inquiry of some sort.

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Police:
"Nothing to see move along, evidence,warrant, those pesky illegal firearms, investigation.... not required, move along, we decided it now, move along"

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Originally Posted by mosquito

Police:
"Nothing to see move along, evidence,warrant, those pesky illegal firearms, investigation.... not required, move along, we decided it now, move along"

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That about sum's it up according to the SIU investigation and CIVILIAN WITNESS reports who were on scene. There was a warrant issue, there were ground to obtain the warrant. Could it have been done better, probably.


"Within seconds of their entry, Mr. Kotanko reached with his right hand toward the workbench, retrieved a firearm, and pointed it at the officers as they yelled at him to drop the gun. He did not," reads the report.

Then an officer shot Kotanko four times. The whole interaction lasted between five and 10 seconds, the report said.

As expected, lots of questions, lots of second-guessing and finger pointing. Interestingly, the time from police entering the shop to shooting the gunsmith was less than 20 seconds. I wonder if the police bothered to interview the guy ahead of executing the search warrant? No doubt this matter will end up in civil court where the whole event will be dissected second by second. First thing that will happen will be challenging the warrant.

The bottom line here is that even if you believe you are within your rights, don’t challenge police authority except in court. Unfortunately going to court is expensive and the party with more money has the advantage.

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Originally Posted by Sam Menard

As expected, lots of questions, lots of second-guessing and finger pointing. Interestingly, the time from police entering the shop to shooting the gunsmith was less than 20 seconds. I wonder if the police bothered to interview the guy ahead of executing the search warrant? No doubt this matter will end up in civil court where the whole event will be dissected second by second. First thing that will happen will be challenging the warrant.

The bottom line here is that even if you believe you are within your rights, don’t challenge police authority except in court. Unfortunately going to court is expensive and the party with more money has the advantage.

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The police were investigating a possible gun trafficking offence. They had seized two crime guns, registered to the gunsmith, which had not been reported stolen…alarm bells would have gone off.. Police would not go and interview someone prior to executing a warrant, especially for the offences possibly involved.
They acted properly, even to the point of doing a “soft” entry, according to SIU investigators….

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

The police were investigating a possible gun trafficking offence. They had seized two crime guns, registered to the gunsmith, which had not been reported stolen…alarm bells would have gone off.. Police would not go and interview someone prior to executing a warrant, especially for the offences possibly involved.
They acted properly, even to the point of doing a “soft” entry, according to SIU investigators….

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I’m not suggesting that they interview the guy while the search team sits outside in their cruisers, but I would think that getting a voluntary statement from the guy at some point to account for the handguns ending up in the wrong hands would have been logical. Are there any details as to what the search was intended to find? I don’t know what the guy was thinking, but pointing a firearm at police is never a good thing.

Straw poll says............. All ex LEOs believe it was a justified murder, the other 99.7 % of the population think what happened is wrong but the investigation result was expected. Carry on as you were, unless you are now dead.
John

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

They acted properly, even to the point of doing a “soft” entry, according to SIU investigators….

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Soft entry with your gun drawn ?? Pointed at his back and then yelling loud enough to startle him and have him turn around quickly with the gun he was working on still in his hand. Then shot him 4 times because you perceived that your life was in danger. The whole entry was mishandled from the get go.

That's the story a good lawyer is going to tell the jury.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Soft entry with your gun drawn ?? Pointed at his back and then yelling loud enough to startle him and have him turn around quickly with the gun he was working on still in his hand. Then shot him 4 times because you perceived that your life was in danger. The whole entry was mishandled from the get go.

That's the story a good lawyer is going to tell the jury.

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Now you’re just “supposin”!!!!