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Incident ID
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220025
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Incident Title
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Police shoot, kill man during a traffic stop after impaired driving complaints
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Incident Date
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2017-03-09
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Incident Description
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At 1 PM on March 9, 2017, Edmonton Police received two 911 calls about an erratic driver. One of the callers followed the offending vehicle they had called about-a blue van- off the Whitemud into a cul-de-sac at Hollands Landing where it came to a halt. By 1:30 Constable Ian Wood-a veteran of six years - was dispatched to the neighbourhood and upon arrival pulled his car in front of a blue Pontiac van and demanded the driver stay in his vehicle. The driver- fifty-five-year-old Vitaly Savin- instead exited the van and according to Wood was swaying back and forth and insisted that he was not drunk after Wood stated that he was (a later test found that his blood-alcohol content was three and a half times the legal limit). Wood then grabbed Savin’s left arm intending to arrest him for impaired driving, but withdrew, stood back, and radioed for other officers to respond when he saw Savin rummaging for something in the van with his right. Wood then ordered Savin to show his hands but instead Savin drew a hunting knife from his car and charged Wood who turned, ran several meters down the icy road, slipped and fell on his back. According to Wood, he shouted at the man to drop his knife, but Savin attempted to stab him. Wood was able to kick Savin away far enough for the constable to draw and shoot his pistol four times, killing the man. Aman Jaggi, the only known witness heard “muttering,” then shouting and then four shots being fired “seconds” afterward. He went outside to talk to Wood who told him that he had pulled Savin over, that he came at him with a hunting life, slipped and “had to shoot him.” Jaggi then filmed other officers who had then arrived who were attempting to resuscitate Savin. A subsequent ASIRT investigation determined Cst. Wood's actions were justified. Savin was a dual citizen of Russia and Canada, and the Russian consulate requested ASIRT investigate whether "Russian racism" was a factor in the shooting. The ASIRT investigation concluded that Savin's background was not a factor in the incident.
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Description Type
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Non-eyewitness, based on documentation
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Incident City
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Edmonton
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Incident Neighbourhood
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Hodgson
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Injuries Incurred
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Gunshot
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Fatal
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Weapon used
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Gun: service weapon
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Type of Abuse
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Physical violence
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Fatal violence
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Victim Gender
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Man
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Victim Race
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White
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Authority Involved
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Edmonton Police Service
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Officer Physical Description
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One officer
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Officer Gender
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Man
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Media Coverage
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CTV News, March 11, 2017
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Global News, March 17, 2017
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Global News, Oct 17, 2018
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National Post, Sept 25, 2019
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CBC News, Sept 25, 2019
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CBC Deadly Force
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Confidentiality/Restrictions
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From published source
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Archive Publication Date
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2022-05-02
