Report Following a Public Interest Investigation into a Chair-Initiated Complaint Respecting the Death in RCMP Custody of Mr. Robert Dziekanski
Appendix H – Chronology of Events
3:12 p.m. Saturday, October 13, 2007 – Mr. Dziekanski arrived at YVR via Condor Air flight 6070. He passed through the CBSA Primary Inspection Line and remained in the secure area of the international arrivals area.
10:30 p.m. October 13, 2007 – Mr. Dziekanski approached the CBSA Secondary Inspection point and was processed by both Customs and Immigration.
12:45 a.m. Sunday, October 14, 2007 – Mr. Dziekanski completed CBSA processing and was free to enter Canada.
1:24 a.m. October 14, 2007 – The first of a series of 911 calls was received by RCMP Richmond Detachment operators indicating that a man (known later to be Mr. Dziekanski), who was reported as likely intoxicated (later found not to be true), was acting erratically, breaking windows and furniture (later found not to be true) and was obstructing the exit from the secure international arrivals area to the public greeting area.
RCMP members who are dispatched do not receive calls from, nor do they speak directly with, persons calling 911. The information is taken by operators and relayed to the member(s) assigned. Because of the nature of radio transmissions, all other members using the same radio frequency, in this case all members assigned to the Richmond Detachment, are able to hear all dispatched transmissions.
The Report to Crown Counsel compiled by IHIT investigators indicates that the time presented on the RCMP dispatch time logs is out of sync with actual time by approximately one minute and 30 seconds. No specific reason for this delay is known, nor are IHIT investigators aware whether this situation has been rectified.
In addition, the internal clock as indicated in the CEW download report does not synch with the timelines. The CEW download indicates that the cycling of the weapon occurred between 01:23:43 and 01:24:32.115
01:24:46 – The first 911 call from the YVR Operations Centre was received by RCMP operators. The call lasted approximately one minute and 32 seconds. The caller from YVR indicated that an unknown female had just called her to state that a male in his 50s was presently located in the international arrivals reception lobby, and stated that the male was throwing suitcases and chairs. The caller informed the YVR Operations Centre that the male appeared intoxicated, that he had dark hair and was wearing a white coat. The caller was concerned that someone would be hurt.
At approximately 1:26 a.m., in an exchange lasting approximately 27 seconds, the dispatcher requested via the Richmond Detachment radio dispatch channel that a YVR member attend. Constable Millington replied and indicated that he would take the call. The dispatcher informed him that information was limited, and stated that a non-white male of approximately 50 years was throwing luggage around the international arrivals area. The male had dark hair and was wearing a white coat. An Occurrence Event, a written synopsis of the radio call, was transmitted to E – 23 (Constable Millington) by the dispatcher at 1:27 a.m.
1:28 a.m. – The second 911 call from YVR Operations was received by an RCMP operator. The caller indicated that the male was now throwing chairs through the glass windows.
01:28:40 – The dispatcher contacted Constable Millington again, advised that the male was now throwing chairs through the glass at the location and asked if Constable Millington had any other members attending with him. Constable Millington advised that other members were with him.
01:30:52 – The RCMP dispatcher recognized that the microphone of one of the members attending the complaint of the erratic male at YVR was keyed open, i.e. the radio unit used by that member was broadcasting, and at 01:31:13 went on-air to ask about the status of D – 21, Constable Rundel, whom she knew was working in Zone 1 (YVR) of the Richmond Detachment.
01:31:14 – BC Ambulance Service received a call from YVR Operations. The call was logged as a non-alert overdose and was assigned a routine priority for response.
01:31:38 – E – 23 (Constable Millington) advised dispatch that one male was in custody, that all four YVR members had attended the scene. He confirmed that D – 21 (Constable Rundel) was with him.
01:32:13 – BC Ambulance dispatched unit 51A to respond to the call received at 01:31:14.
01:32:25 – E – 24 (Constable Bentley) requested by police radio that Emergency Health Services (EHS) (also referred to as BC Ambulance Service) be dispatched. Constable Bentley requested that EHS use a routine priority for the call. This means that EHS should attend, but there was no urgency to the need for medical personnel.
01:32:49 – Dispatch received a radio call from an unknown member at the scene who requested that the BC Ambulance Service response be upgraded to Code 3 (most urgent). The member said that the male was unconscious but breathing.
01:32:50 – BC Ambulance received an updating call informing that police were on scene, that the patient had a decreased level of consciousness and requesting that the call be upgraded to Code 3.
01:33:00 – The RCMP dispatcher advised BC Ambulance Service that the call should be upgraded to Code 3. BC Ambulance Service dispatch asked if this was the "intoxicated guy" and the RCMP dispatcher confirmed it. She also indicated to BC Ambulance Service that RCMP members were with the male, and that it was safe for EHS personnel to attend.
01:33:16 – E – 23 (Constable Millington) was advised by dispatch that EHS was en route Code 3.
01:33:39 – BC Ambulance received a call to indicate that the patient was now unconscious.
01:33:57 – Another RCMP dispatcher also called EHS to upgrade the response to Code 3.
01:34:00 – The Richmond Fire Department was contacted by RCMP dispatch and asked to attend YVR. A Captain and three firefighters were assigned.
01:34:09 – Unit 51A, the BC Ambulance unit which had initially been assigned, was cancelled by BC Ambulance dispatch because it was too far removed from YVR for the Code 3 call. At that time, the call was assigned to Unit 69A2 (crew members Egli and Maciak).
01:35:06 – BC Ambulance also dispatched unit 69A1 (crew members Randell and Van Houten) for the Code 3 call to YVR.
01:40:00 – Richmond Fire Department personnel arrived at YVR.
01:42:02 – E – 24 (Constable Bentley) requested the file number for the incident from dispatch.
01:46:57 – BC Ambulance Unit 69A2 arrived on scene.
01:47:17 – BC Ambulance Unit 69A1 arrived on scene.
115 This is a common problem with the CEWs used by the RCMP which has been noted in other cases reviewed by the Commission and has resulted in an inability to thoroughly review some matters because of the unreliability of the evidence.