Material Type

Artifact

Date Range To

1988

Materials

STEEL, WOOD

No. Pieces

1

Height

3.3

Length

64.5

Width

18.4

Description

MACHETE, WOOD HANDLE HAND MARKED “…88/12/18…” SHOWS SHANK OF BLADE IN TOP, HANDLE HELD TOGETHER WITH HEAVY BOLTS. STEEL BLADE RUSTED THROUGHOUT, LABELED “… EXHIBIT REPORT # B 0269… CHESTER HEAVY RUNNER…” STEEL GUARD ALSO RUSTING.

Subjects

AGRICULTURAL T&E

Historical Association

DOMESTIC

History

ACCORDING TO THE FRONT PAGE OF THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD ISSUED ON DECEMBER 11, 1990, ON DECEMBER 18, 1988 A CAB DRIVER CALLED THE POLICE IN DISTRESS. WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE THEY FOUND CHESTER HEAVY RUNNER BRANDISHING THIS MACHETE. HE THREATENED AN OFFICER WITH THE MACHETE, BUT DROPPED IT AFTER A SECOND OFFICER ARRIVED. THE MACHETE WAS POSSESSED BY THE POLICE ON DEC. 18, 1988. IT WAS NOT THE SAME KNIFE THAT HEAVY RUNNER BRANDISHED WHEN HE WAS SHOT, HOWEVER, THE DEC. 18, 1988 INCIDENT WAS USED AS EVIDENCE OF HEAVY RUNNER'S CONDUCT IN A POLICE INQUIRY REGARDING THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON APRIL 20, 1989. ON APRIL 20, 1989 CHESTER HEAVY RUNNER WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY CONSTABLE GARY HOLBERTON. HEAVY RUNNER HAD BEEN BRANDISHING TWO MACHETES. HE WAS ASKED REPEATEDLY TO DROP THE KNIVES. HE REFUSED AND WAS SHOT AS A RESULT. HEAVY RUNNER WAS INTOXICATED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE SHOOTING SPARKED A HEATED DEBATE BETWEEN LETHBRIDGE AND AREA CITIZENS. MANY THOUGHT CONST. HOLBERTON'S ACTIONS WERE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TAKEN TO DISARM THE ASSAILANT. MANY OTHERS BELEIVED HOLBERTON SHOULD HAVE AIMED FOR HEAVY RUNNER'S ARM OR LEG THEREBY INCAPACITATING HIM RATHER THAN KILLING HIM. AS A RESULT, SEVERAL PEOPLE CLAIMED THIS INCIDENT OCCURED DUE TO RACISM IN THE POLICE FORCE. AN INQUIRY (THE ROLF COMMISSION) WAS MADE INTO THE LETHBRIDGE CITY POLICE. THE INQUIRY STATED "THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN TWO SCENARIOS. EITHER HEAVY RUNNER COULD HAVE COME TO HIS SENSES AND CONSENTED TO THE ORDERS OF THE POLICE OR HEAVY RUNNER COULD CONTINUE TO ESCALATE THE DANGER TO A POINT WHERE HE WOULD HAVE TO BE SHOT. HEAVY RUNNER'S CONDUCT, SAID DUBE 'LED DIRECTLY TO THE LATTER RESOLUTION.'" (LETHBRIDGE HERALD, DECEMBER 11, 1990) SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS RELATED TO THE EVENT.

Catalogue Number

P19980037005

Acquisition Date

1998-06

Collection

Museum

Less detail