The Toronto Police Services Board says Rodger Kotanko was “was the author of his own misfortune.”
CBC is reporting the news following a recently filed statement of defence in response to a $23 million lawsuit by Kotanko’s family.
For the first time, the officers involved have been named publicly.
They are Det. Const. Richard Haines, Det. Sgt. Robert DiDanieli, Det. Const. Alex Pandolfi, Det. Const. Jeffrey Winter and Det. Const. Graham Knill.
The statement goes on to say officers identified themselves and asked the customer to raise his hands before doing the same for Kotanko – when Kotanko allegedly pulled a gun out and pointed it at officers.
The family denies this took place.
The article says that police made “further verbal commands for Mr. Kotanko to drop the firearm,” and that’s when Det. Const. Richard Haines shot Kotanko, “fearing for the lives and safety of himself, the client, and his fellow officers.”
The statement also says the case should be thrown out.