A coronerB次元官网网址檚 inquest into the deaths of a Surrey couple killed by police during a hostage-taking in Whalley in 2019 opened April 16 in Burnaby with a written statement from the son of Randy E. Crosson, one of the deceased.

B次元官网网址淢y dad had a hard life and didnB次元官网网址檛 have the opportunities to get better and to get clean,B次元官网网址� he told the inquest. B次元官网网址淲hat you are about to hear is about a man on drugs, struggling with life. But this was not my dad. My dad was a loving, caring person who loved all us kids. IB次元官网网址檓 sorry for what he has done with life, but hopefully today we can learn from this. I love my dad and Nona both the same.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪o my hope today is for a little understanding, and hopefully today we as a family can get some closure for our future.B次元官网网址�

The inquest is at CoronersB次元官网网址� Court, on the 20th floor of Metrotower II, with coroner Margaret Janzen presiding. She and a jury are hearing evidence from witnesses under oath. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances but not any finding of legal responsibility.

A Surrey-based police watchdog B次元官网网址� the Independent Investigations Office B次元官网网址� in 2020 found the RCMPB次元官网网址檚 Emergency Response Team blameless in the shooting deaths of Nona Marnie McEwan, 45, and her boyfriend Crosson, 48, whom authorities say was holding McEwan against her will in her rented home. The standoff saw roughly two dozen police vehicles, as well as an armoured vehicle, surround a home in a cul-de-sac near 132A Street and 100A Avenue.

McEwan was killed when she was struck by two police bullets as ERT officers fired on Crosson, who held a large knife to her throat and had B次元官网网址渨hat appeared to beB次元官网网址� a gun in his hand.

Forensic police later found a B次元官网网址渞ealistic-lookingB次元官网网址� replica pistol between the bed and the wall. Crosson was pronounced dead at the scene and McEwan died in hospital.

Brandon McEwan, Nona McEwanB次元官网网址檚 son, told the coroner and jury B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 kind of hard to talk about her,B次元官网网址� wiping away tears. B次元官网网址淪he was awesome.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪he was a great person, a great friend,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪he was a great mother.B次元官网网址�

He phoned 911, telling police Crosson was believed to have a gun and his mom wasnB次元官网网址檛 safe. B次元官网网址淭hey brought a tank, thatB次元官网网址檚 pretty scary.B次元官网网址�

McEwan was asked if he recalled how things ended. B次元官网网址淪hitty,B次元官网网址� he replied.

B次元官网网址淭hese guys are supposed to be trained professionals and it didnB次元官网网址檛 seem that professional in my eyes,B次元官网网址� he told the jury.

CrossonB次元官网网址檚 probation officer Rob Ryhorchuk testified he was assigned to his case in 2015 after Crosson was convicted of robbery. CrossonB次元官网网址檚 criminal history began in 1996, primarily involving break-ins, theft, assault, carrying a weapon and numerous convictions for failing to comply with court orders.

In 2003, he was convicted of assaulting McEwan and released on probation. B次元官网网址淗is explanation of the offence to his supervising probation officer at that point was that he threw a sandwich.B次元官网网址�

He was ordered not to have contact with her or her family for one year. B次元官网网址淚 believe Mr. Crosson attended Ms. McEwanB次元官网网址檚 residence and threatened her father, her mother and herself saying he was going to burn their house down.B次元官网网址� He was convicted of uttering threats and breach of probation. B次元官网网址淚 believe there was another two-year probation order,B次元官网网址� Ryhorchuk told the inquest.

Ryhorchuk said probation officers typically deal with 55 to 60 clients at any given time. The inquest heard Crosson was diagnosed as bipolar and B次元官网网址渉ad a history of non-compliance in terms of taking his medication. He actually had his parole revoked because he failed to attend any mental health services in the community after being directed so by his probation officer. When I met with him he indicated to me that upon his release he was having issues accesssing medication.B次元官网网址�

The IIO concluded McEwan died because of CrossonB次元官网网址檚 actions, as he held her against her will in her home, threatened her life B次元官网网址渁nd provoked an armed response from the police aimed at saving her.B次元官网网址� His actions, the IIOB次元官网网址檚 chief civilian director Ron MacDonald said, B次元官网网址渕ade it inevitable that officers would fire on him when they broke into the bedroom, and who held her in front of him as a shield against police bullets.B次元官网网址�

Accordingly, he found, B次元官网网址淚 do not consider that there are reasonable grounds to believe that an officer may have committed an offence under any enactment and therefore the matter will not be referred to Crown counsel for consideration of charges.B次元官网网址�

The IIO operates out of Bing ThomB次元官网网址檚 Central City tower in Whalley and reports to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 attorney general.

MacDonald noted his report was based, in part, on the statements of 25 B次元官网网址渃ivilianB次元官网网址� witnesses, seven paramedics and 38 witness police officers. A toxicology report indicated Crosson had methamphetamine, amphetamine, fentanyl, nor-fentanyl, heroin, ethanol, THC and naloxone in his system.

The inquest continued after Now-Leader press time and is expected to run for two weeks.