Inquest begins into fatal Niagara Gorge incident

For the first time we are hearing from the Niagara Regional Police officer involved in that fatal encounter with 18-year-old Ryan Dube at the Niagara Gorge two years ago.

Dube was being pursued by Constable Jacob Smits when Dube jumped over the retaining wall and fell 100 feet to his death.

Constable Smits was told to arrest Dube for a probation violation. Smits parked near the group home where Dube lived waiting for a backup officer, when Dube and his girlfriend walked right in front of him.

Because Dube was about 220 pounds, Smits said he didn’t want to escalate tensions. He told Dube he was going to be arrested. Dube clenched his fists. He asked Smits if he could have a cigarette. When Smits went to his cruiser, Dube bolted. As he did, Smits yelled out, “Come on, Ryan, I gave you a break by letting you have a cigarette.”

Smits followed Dube in his cruiser until he was blocked by brush. He lost sight of Dube but could hear breaking branches over the Gorge wall. Smits said, “Oh my God, he’s gone over the gorge.”

He could see dube on the other side of the wall hanging onto the side and said, “Ryan, stop. You’re going to fall”

Smits says his intention was to rescue Dube, climb on the wall, grab a tree limb and pull him up.

But instead, Dube and Smits both plunged about 100 feet down. With multiple broken bones, Smits radioed for help. Smits fired rounds from his gun to signal where he was.

Smits couldn’t see Dube, but he could hear him gurgling and gasping for breath. Smits says he told the rescuers to go to Dube first.

Dube died before he was lifted to the top.