Charges laid in death of rookie RCMP officer in Nunavut

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Charges laid in death of rookie RCMP officer in Nunavut

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Nunavut's "V" Division RCMP have confirmed that a charge of first degree murder has been laid against 37 year old Pingoatuk (Ping) Kolola of Kimmirut, Nunavut. A news conference is scheduled for later today to provide updates on the story.

Constable Douglas Scott, 20, of the RCMP “V” Division in Nunavut was shot and killed Mondaynight while responding to a call regarding an allegedly impaired driver in Kimmirut, Nunavut. According to the RCMP, Douglas responded to the call at 10:56pm local time and by 11:32pm, after repeated attempts to raise the officer on the radio, a second officer was dispatched to the scene where the body of Cst. Scott was found.

At 4:10am, after a brief standoff, a suspect was taken into custody and transported to Iqaluit by RCMP plane. The suspect has not been named at this point, but he is expected to make a court appearance in Iqaluit today.

This is the second RCMP officer murdered in Canada’s Arctic region in a month, and the first in Nunavut since the death of veteran Cst. Jurgen Seewald in Cape Dorset on March 5, 2001.

RCMP "V" Division Commanding Officer Statement

RCMP Press Release regarding Charges against Pingoatuk Kolola.