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No Charges in Assault Allegation Involving Cape Breton Police Officer
The province's independent Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) has concluded its investigation regarding an allegation of assault made against an officer with the Cape Breton Regional Police (CBRP) in February 2021.
On February 1st, 2021, CBRP contacted SiRT after receiving a letter from a third-party alleging the affected person (AP) had suffered serious injuries during his arrest on August 29, 2020.
On August 29, 2020, officers responded to a call of a male driving an ATV that had been reported stolen earlier that day. An officer who was driving an unmarked police vehicle, followed the ATV and advised other officers of his location and the AP's course of travel. Once other officers and resources were mobilized, the ATV was boxed in by several police vehicles and the AP was arrested. The AP was removed from the ATV, placed on the ground and handcuffed. The AP was then placed in a police vehicle and driven to the police station.
The follow morning, the AP complained to an officer about the injuries he allegedly sustained during his arrest.
In his statement to SiRT on March 30, 2021, the AP, who was unable to identify the officer, stated he had been brutally beaten during his arrest, had suffered broken ribs, and his eyelid had been split open.
The investigation determined that the evidence of the complainant did not match the medical findings. X-rays of the AP's left knee did not show any fractures and the chest x-ray showed no collapsed lung or escape of any fluid in the chest cavity. There was no mention in the medical records of any rib fractures and no injury requiring any medical intervention to the left eye was noted. The AP was not admitted to the hospital for any treatment.
Based on these findings, no charges are warranted against the officer.
The full 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 the independent civilian director who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid after the conclusion of an investigation.
Media Contact:
Felix Cacchione
Director
902-718-9707
