Mounties say a man is dead after he crossed from the United States into Canada at the Coutts Border Crossing in southern Alberta on Tuesday.
It’s one of three incidents detailed by RCMP during a news conference in Edmonton on Wednesday about Canada’s border with the U.S.
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Assistant commissioner Lisa Moreland told reporters the man was referred to secondary inspection at the border crossing when he arrived at 7:45 a.m., but police say he drove north into Canada without stopping for inspection.
Border officers notified police, who located the vehicle near Raymond, Alta., about 80 kilometres from the Coutts.
Police followed the man from Raymond to Lethbridge, Alta., a distance of about 35 kilometres and back through Raymond.
A tire deflation device was ultimately deployed near Milk River, Alta., which is about 60 kilometres from Raymond, bringing the vehicle to a stop.
The man ran from the scene on foot and was chased by police and canine officers.
“During the pursuit, the male sustained a self-inflicted firearm related injury and was pronounced deceased at the scene,” Moreland told reporters.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which investigates incidents involving Alberta police officers that lead to serious injury or death, has taken carriage of the investigation.
The day before, Moreland said four adults and five children were found to have walked across the border near Coutts, Alta., around 6:15 a.m.
Moreland said the group was traveling on foot with suitcases.
“All nine individuals were arrested under the Customs Act and were handed over to CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) for processing.”
The third event happened on Jan. 14 at the Manitoba border crossing.
Six people crossed the border on foot about 15 kilometres east of Emerson, Man.
Moreland said Canadian authorities were warned of the group by their American counterparts.
“RCMP officers in a vehicle responded immediately and began searching for the group who had fled into the nearby woods, with the RCMP plane directing officers on the ground,” Moreland said. “All six were arrested without incident and transferred to the CBSA.”
In both cases involving people on foot, Moreland said the migrants were not dressed for the cold, Canadian temperatures.
“They did not have hats, gloves, mitts, or anything that we would normally see in a Canadian winter,” Moreland said.
“I will note in both all the incidents that I described today, both in Manitoba and Alberta, the weather was incredibly cold and ranging from -20 to -30 C without factoring in the wind chill.”
An ambulance was called to check out the migrants.
Moreland says the incidents show that the RCMP is committed to securing the border between the U.S. and Canada.
“I would say that the RCMP takes these investigations very seriously. Obviously, we address the humanity piece first, and the RCMP is continuing the investigations associated to these matters.”
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive order on Saturday to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada, with the exception of a 10 per cent on Canadian energy.
On Monday, Trump agreed to pause the tariffs after a call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in which Trudeau agreed to expand a $1.3-billion border protection plan from December.
Canada will also list cartels as terrorists, launch a new cross-border task force, spend $200 million more to fight drug trafficking and appoint a fentanyl czar.
Police say no fentanyl was found in any of the cases on Feb. 3, 2 or Jan. 14.
Moreland had a message for anyone thinking of coming into Canada illegally.
“To anyone who is thinking about crossing the border, don’t. You’re putting your life at risk, and you should not attempt under any circumstances.”
