The employee dressed in the Star Wars stormtrooper costumer at Coco Vanilla Galactic Cantina. (Supplied by Bradley Whalen)

By Justin Goulet

Medicine Hat Police Service leads investigation on stormtrooper arrest in Lethbridge

May 8, 2020 | 10:29 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) is clearing up some confusion regarding an external investigation.

The investigation is looking into the actions of officers during an arrest on Monday, May 4.

The incident involved an employee at the Coco Vanilla Galactic Cantina who was wearing a Star Wars stormtrooper costume for a store promotion.

Police had responded to the site following two 911 calls reporting a person in the costume carrying a firearm. The weapon was eventually confirmed to be fake and the female employee was not charged.

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On May 5, after reviewing the file and additional information including a video circulating on social media, LPS acting Chief Scott Woods notified the Alberta Director of Law Enforcement (DLE).

Earlier this week, LPS issued a release that Woods had directed a service investigation under the Alberta Police Act, but did not clarify any further on that, leading many to believe the investigation would be done internally.

LPS said Friday (May 8) that the DLE reviewed the matter and found that it was out of scope and the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) – an independent provincial investigation agency – would NOT take on the investigation.

Woods then directed a service investigation be conducted by an external agency.

LPS says the Medicine Hat Police Service have since taken on the file and initiated an investigation into the incident.

“LPS is committed to ensuring transparency in this matter and once the independent investigation has been completed and reviewed, a public update will be provided,” read a release from Lethbridge Police.

LPS noted that no further comment will be made as the investigation not within the jurisdiction of the Lethbridge Police Service.