Report Released in RCMP Guysborough Arrest of Man

The province's Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) has concluded that no charges should be laid against an RCMP Guysborough officer in relation to his arrest of a 53-year-old man in February during which the man suffered a fracture to his left arm.

On the afternoon of February 14, the officer attempted to arrest a man who had stolen groceries and damaged property at a store in Boylston. The man has a history of mental illness. During his arrest on a rural road, the man resisted and swung a wooden club at the officer.  The officer responded in self-defence by striking the man on the left arm with his baton. The male was arrested, and subsequently charged with theft, mischief, resisting arrest, and assaulting a peace officer. In August, he was remanded by the Provincial Court for assessment. That remand continues.

SiRT has concluded the officer had a right to use reasonable force to arrest the man and to protect himself from the man’s attempt to strike him with the club. In these circumstances that included the officer’s use of his baton. There are no grounds to consider charges in this matter.

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 independent civilian director Ron MacDonald.

Media Contact:

Ron MacDonald, QC
Director
Serious Incident Response Team
902-424-8400 (O)
902-718-9707 (C) 
E-mail: macdonrj@gov.ns.ca