Kevin St. Arnaud

A coroner’s inquest into the death of Kevin St. Arnaud, 29, is finally scheduled to commence January 18, 2007 in Vanderhoof, B.C., more than two years after the young man was killed by police.

On December 19, 2004, Cst. Sheremetta of the Vanderhoof RCMP was pursuing Mr. St. Arnaud on foot across a soccer field because Mr. St. Arnaud was suspected to have recently committed a break and enter in a local shopping mall. According to a letter from Crown Counsel explaining that no charges would be laid against Sheremetta, Mr. St. Arnaud “came to a stop and put his arms in the air” when “Cst. Sheremetta was approximately fifteen to twenty feet from Mr. St. Arnaud.” When Mr. St. Arnaud “advanced” toward the officer, Cst. Sheremetta fired three bullets into Mr. St. Arnaud’s chest, killing him. Cst. Sheremetta’s female partner was nearby, watching this happen.

According to the letter from Crown Counsel, “no weapons were found on Mr. St. Arnaud.” There is no suggestion in the letter that Mr. St. Arnaud had anything in his possession that could be mistaken for a weapon: no penknife, no TV remote, no portable CD player…just some plastic pill containers. The letter does not explain how a person brandishing pill bottles can cause two police officers to fear for their lives and thereby justify such a shooting.

The inquest is expected to run until the end of the month.