A Canadian Forces colonel allegedly fired at “protected wildlife” from a ship in Ontario whereas carrying a .22 rifle and a revolver on Aug. 25, based on courtroom paperwork.
Col. Leif Dahl is scheduled for a primary look in Belleville courtroom Thursday.
The courtroom paperwork define the eight costs he’s dealing with, together with obstructing a police officer, looking a chook with no licence and allegedly utilizing the rifle in a “careless method.”
The colonel has been briefly faraway from his position as commander of 8 Wing and Canadian Forces Base Trenton.
Provincial police say following Dahl’s arrest, two weapons have been fished out of the water.
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‘Extraordinarily weird’ scenario
It’s a case that’s left observers with questions, together with Rory Fowler, a former army lawyer now in non-public follow.
“It simply appears extraordinarily weird {that a} senior member of the Canadian Forces, who one would assume goes to be a mature, well-educated, accountable particular person goes to be the topic of those allegations,” stated Fowler, who shouldn’t be concerned within the courtroom matter.
“What was he pondering?”
A request for remark despatched to the colonel’s e-mail tackle acquired an computerized response saying he’d been briefly reassigned.
Brandon Crawford, the lawyer representing Dahl, stated Wednesday they’re ready for disclosure from the Crown and haven’t any remark right now.
The paperwork outlining the colonel’s costs stated he had a “rifle and revolver, for a objective harmful to public peace,” throughout that day on the Murray Canal.
Fowler stated primarily based on the calibre of the rifle and outline of the handgun, he’s “fairly assured” they more than likely weren’t military-issue.
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“These are in all probability firearms that have been his personal firearms, that they have been lawfully owned,” he stated.
A spokesperson for the Division of Nationwide Defence (DND) stated the Canadian Armed Forces use quite a lot of weapons, however members will not be issued “private firearms,” reminiscent of a .22 rifle or revolver.
The division declined to say extra in regards to the weapons that have been used or the place they got here from, because the investigation is ongoing.
2 weapons recovered from canal
One of many weapons was discovered on the backside of the canal on Aug. 25.
Dahl, 45, was initially charged with obstructing a police officer, careless use of a firearm and three violations of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act: utilizing a firearm carelessly to hunt, looking a chook with no licence and having a loaded firearm in a conveyance.
Three days after the incident, police searched a house in Belleville the place they discovered three lengthy weapons saved in a “careless method,” based on courtroom paperwork.
Police divers additionally returned and found a second gun within the waterway.
Investigators introduced three extra costs for Dahl on Aug. 30: possession of a weapon for a harmful objective, careless storage of a firearm and breaching firearms rules by transporting a firearm or restricted weapon.
The courtroom paperwork don’t present additional element in regards to the revolver, however Fowler stated anybody who legally owns a handgun in Canada undergoes coaching and would pay attention to strict rules that restrict the place the firearms may be transported.
Then there’s the actual fact Dahl is a member of the army.
“It’s very unusual that someone who has had ample coaching within the possession, the usage of firearms, goes to … use a restricted firearm … in a way that’s not in keeping with the legislation,” stated the lawyer.
Fowler stated that strangeness extends to the allegation the colonel additionally “fired at some type of chook or waterfowl.”
Police have declined to say what kind of wildlife was focused.
Fees will affect colonel’s profession
DND beforehand confirmed by e-mail that the Royal Canadian Air Power was conscious of a “hunting-related incident” on Aug. 25 involving Dahl
In a separate assertion, Maj.-Gen. Iain Huddleston, commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, stated it occurred whereas the colonel was on go away.
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That assertion additionally introduced Dahl had been briefly faraway from command and described the scenario as a “troublesome time.”
Fowler stated being discovered responsible of significant prison offences may end up in Canadian Forces members being launched from the army.
Whatever the final result, he stated these costs will go away a mark on Dahl.
“Even when he’s not launched from the Canadian Forces because of a conviction, it’s actually going to have an effect on his profession,” Fowler stated.
“It is going to just about halt any profession development.”