I'm surprised to find out that Linda Bush, the mother of Ian Bush, dropped the lawsuit against the R.C.M.P. Ian Bush was a young man who was shot and killed by a rookie police officer.

My information was produced in the Final Report to Ian Bush death (http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/prr/rep/rev/chair-pre/IanBush-fin-r...).

When Ian Bush was arrested, he was arrested for supplying a false name. This is illegal in Canada, and probably not the first time a rowdy young man has done this. So, Constable Paul Koester promptly arrested him. According to reports, Ian Bush had an open beer and been laughing with other people during a hockey game. Ian Bush apparently was play wrestling or observing. Reports are contradictory.

When brought to the police detachment, Constable Koester was contacted from detachment. Within a 20 second period, Koester was preparing to release Bush. Bush was given a PTA and an Intoxication ticket.

Koester reportedly promised to give Bush a ride home. According to Koester, Bush claimed to have threatened him. According to Koester, Bush then lunged at him punching him in his face. Bush reportedly continued to punch Koester as they struggled around the room.

The following happened:

“Constable Koester stated that he was able to bring out his service pistol with his right hand and swung it to hit Mr. Bush who was still choking him. Constable Koester believed that he hit Mr. Bush in the head or neck area three times although “[i]t didn’t seem as if [he] could swing very hard.” Constable Koester thought to himself: “He’ll know that this is my gun and he’ll let me go.” Constable Koester stated that he thought he was “going to be dead in seconds” and “[i]t was getting black while [he] was swinging” the pistol. According to Constable Koester, he “started to see stars” and his “vision was becoming dark and there were little bits of light.”

Constable Koester stated that he stopped swinging his gun while it was still up at Mr. Bush’s head and Mr. Bush kept squeezing his neck. He said that he was “going unconscious” and “knew that [he] had to pull the trigger in order to save [his own] life.” According to Constable Koester, he pulled the trigger just before blacking out and he neither heard nor felt the shot. Constable Koester “[did not] even recall pulling the trigger” but knows that he did. Constable Koester stated that he was not sure if he did actually black out but he ended up lying on the floor and did not know how he got there and he was too weak to get up.”

According to reports through CBC, the Globe and Mail and the National Post, Koester didn’t turn on the video link which was against policy. Ian Bush had zero drugs in his body, however a considerable amount of booze.

Within a two minute time period, Ian Bush lay dead. The bullet hadn’t gone through his head.

I am going to take a quick second to state my opinion before going on. Mr. Bush was on top of Koester, Koester was being strangled from behind. Koester managed to pull out his gun and then before blacking out or blacking out shoot Mr. Bush in the head? Zero cops, no video link and then one dead man. This doesn’t make sense.

Here is another statement that seems to contradict the first one from behind, “According to Constable Woroshelo, Constable Koester 'spontaneously kind of told [him] what happened' including: that Mr. Bush had hit him in the side of the head after which a fight ensued; Mr. Bush was able to get on his back and then choked him from behind; that he could not break the choke-hold and was starting to lose consciousness; that he tried hitting Mr. Bush in the head with his gun a few times to get him off but he could not; that he feared for his life and thought he was going to die; and that he shot Mr. Bush. This was the second of the two spontaneous utterances Constable Koester made immediately following the incident.”

“Constable Koester stated that it felt like Mr. Bush was behind him and to his right side.”

Constable Koester had “got into a fight with the prisoner and as a result he had to use lethal force.”

According to the report, an investigating officer seized the clothing of Koester, then invited him over to his house for lodging. Now, this really doesn’t seem to be impartial conduct of an investigating officer. I am pretty sure the RCMP didn’t rope up Picktons farm then offered him a room at the Chiefs house.

Another startling thing is when the ambulance arrived on scene. According to the time line of events the ambulance arrived about 20 minutes after the shooting of Bush. The Corporal in charge claimed he was dead when he arrived at 945, two minutes after Bush’s death. Then, 1039 the ambulance attendant is brought into the scene of the crime. Almost one hour has gone by since he was shot. One hour. According to reports, Robert Kennedy could have survived in today’s time after being shot point blank. Everyone is different, but one hour?

I am just surprised to read some of the later testimonies from the Bloodstain analysis expert, to the area Superintendent and the officers involved. Within a 10 hour period, the scene was apparently handled improperly. Two constables and a corporal spoke with Koester privately. No on scene direction was handled, no cameras were in the building. Koester's clothes were confiscated and delivered four hours later to headquarters. Koester spent the night with a constable. An immediate statement was provided from Koester. Koester seemed to have had spontaneous outbursts to officers and they weren’t recorded.

I am not an investigating journalist of any kind. However, after reading various news articles, reports, family statements, police statements and blogs that had a proponent and opposing point of view, something just doesn’t add up.

Constable Koester reacted when allegedly being choked. He stated at one point that he was being choked from behind, and then later stated in a fit he was on the floor.

He was being choked, and while trying to reach for his baton, he couldn’t do so. He then reached for his gun, and then managed to shoot Mr. Bush from behind. The reports indicate that Koester was able to pull the trigger while pointing the gun behind his back and shoot him in his head (back), while claiming to be, “seeing stars… weak… blacking out,” all at the same time. Mr. Bush was on top of him, and both arms were needed to maintain a foot hold, while Koester stated he was pulling at Mr. Bush’s hair, and reaching for the baton and the gun. So, I am just stating in my opinion, something doesn’t line up.

Constable Koester wasn’t charged with anything, his RCMP friends seemed to rather either dictate to him, or accommodate him.

This will be a few series in recent police incidents that seem rather fishy.

C-Talk: Your Balanced Opinion.