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No Charges Against RCMP Officers Relating to Arrest of Hillsburn Man
The province's independent Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) released a report today regarding the investigation into the shooting and arrest of a Hillsburn area man.
In the early morning hours of July 4, 2016, Bridgetown RCMP responded to a complaint of a suspicious fire involving a motorhome and adjacent residence in Hillsburn, Annapolis County. In learning the details of the fire, officers determined they were looking for a local man who was identified as the person responsible for setting the fire.
When officers located the male suspect a short time later near a residence not far from the fire scene, he was driving a stolen truck and attempting to strike another smaller vehicle carrying passengers known to him. The two RCMP officers approached the truck on foot and repeatedly ordered the driver to stop and exit the vehicle. The suspect did not comply and drove directly toward the two officers. Fearing for their personal safety and safety of those around them, the officers fired shots toward the vehicle hitting both the vehicle and the driver. The driver exited the vehicle and was placed under arrest. He was treated in hospital for non-life threatening gunshot wounds to both arms.
There were a number of Criminal Code charges laid in connection to these events including two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with a weapon, dangerous driving, theft of a motor vehicle, and arson. On August 11, 2016, the accused was found not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder on all charges.
The SiRT investigation found the use of force exercised by the officers was reasonable and justified in the circumstances. The officers knew the male suspect had very recent mental health issues, was acting in a bizarre manner that evening, was possibly armed with a firearm and was not following their repeated orders to stop and get out of the vehicle. In order to stop the vehicle from running them over, it was necessary at that moment, to use their firearms. Statements taken by SiRT investigators from witnesses at the scene verified the imminent danger facing the officers and the justification for the actions they took.
In these circumstances, there are no grounds to consider any charges against the police officers.
A complete copy of the report is available at http://sirt.novascotia.ca.
SIRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia. Investigations are under the direction and control of independent civilian interim director John Scott, who is solely responsible for decisions respecting the laying of any charge.
Media Contact:
John L. Scott
Interim Director
902-424-8400 (o)
902-718-9707 (m)
