Calgary Police Sgt. Andrew Harnett, 37, died on New Year’s Eve. (Canadian Press)

By Canadian Press/CJME

Murder Warrants

Murder warrants issued for suspects in traffic stop death of Calgary officer

Jan 1, 2021 | 3:05 PM

Calgary police have issued first-degree murder warrants for two people they believe were involved in the death of an officer during a traffic stop.

Sgt. Andrew Harnett, who was 37, died on New Year’s Eve.

Police say he had pulled over an SUV in the neighbourhood of Falconridge about 10:30 p.m. and was hit and dragged on the road when the vehicle took off.

A second unrelated vehicle was also involved and may have come into contact with the officer on the road, said police. They added the driver of that vehicle stayed at the scene and is helping with the investigation.

Police say paramedics and fellow officers tried to revive Harnett, but he died in hospital nearly an hour later.

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Officers are searching for Amir Abdulrahman, 19, of Calgary and a 17-year-old suspect.

Police say they applied to the courts to get permission to identify the younger suspect. People under the age of 18 who are facing charges aren’t typically allowed to be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Police believe the younger suspect was the driver and Abdulrahman was a passenger.

Officers are also looking for a copper-coloured 2006 Infiniti FX with a small spare tire on its front passenger side. The vehicle has noticeable hail damage.

Chief Const. Mark Neufeld told a news conference Friday that he’s angry about the “totally senseless” killing of the officer he had known personally.

Harnett, a 12-year veteran of the force, was previously a military police officer.

Neufeld said Harnett also helped investigators identify the suspects before he died, but did not give details.

“Sgt. Harnett was a very accomplished front-line officer and a digger and very professional,” Neufeld said.

“He did a very good job of capturing and recording information and in this case the fact he’d done that was very helpful to us.”

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The Canadian Press