Vancouver police officer stabbed by robbery suspect gives emotional testimony at inquest

WARNING: This story contains graphic details.

A police officer who was repeatedly stabbed by robbery suspect Daniel Peter Rintoul before he was able to pull his gun says he’s still “haunted” by the choices he made that day, six years ago.

Const. Justin Fraser testified Monday at the coroners’ inquest into the police shooting death of 38-year-old Rintoul outside an East Vancouver Canadian Tire on Nov. 10, 2016.

Fraser and his partner, Const. Gary Li, were the first Vancouver police officers on the scene that day after Rintoul had attempted to rob the store’s gun section, slashed a store employee with a knife and taken an elderly customer hostage.

During an emotional morning session at the inquest, Fraser described how Rintoul stabbed him in the back, shoulders, face, thigh and abdomen.

Fraser said he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and a sleep disorder and has not been able to return to patrol duty since the stabbing.

“My confidence has been shot. If I was out on patrol, I do believe I would respond appropriately, but I don’t want to go through that stress for A) myself and B) my family. My family has paid a huge price for this,” Fraser told the coroners’ jury before turning away in tears.

He was one of three officers who fired live rounds at Rintoul, ultimately killing him.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. investigated the shooting and cleared the officers of criminal wrongdoing, agreeing that Rintoul “posed a threat of deadly force” to police and members of the public.

During the coroner’s inquest, which concluded Monday afternoon, the jury heard from witnesses to determine the facts of the case. The jury can make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths.

‘Things were just not making sense’

Speaking slowly and pausing frequently to take deep breaths, Fraser ran through the events that led to him firing on Rintoul.

Fraser recalled arriving at the store’s parking lot and taking out his C8 rifle, in addition to the pistol in his holster.

The seriousness of the situation was so apparent that Fraser didn’t take the time to load the empty rifle or strap it to his back. He said those are decisions that have “haunted me to this day.”

The jury heard that as Fraser and Li approached the store, they saw Rintoul coming out, holding a customer hostage. Rintoul then turned toward Fraser and sprayed him with bear spray.

Fraser testified that he ducked and turned to try to escape the spray as he heard Li discharge his Taser. 

Fraser…