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SiRT – Enfield RCMP Members Justified in Arrest of Male in May
SiRT – Enfield RCMP Members Justified in Arrest of Male in May
The province’s Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) today released its report about the May 22, 2014 arrest of a 52-year-old man in Enfield.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m., two members of the Enfield RCMP responded to a 911 complaint from a residence in Enfield. On arrival, they encountered three men who had been drinking. The male in question was highly intoxicated and had allegedly uttered threats to one of the other men. Police spoke to the man in an attempt to convince him to go home, but he eventually also uttered threats to police, and was placed under arrest. The man began to resist. The officers applied force to control the man and place him in handcuffs. While doing so, one officer felt the man’s arm break, and EHS was called immediately.
The two other men present indicated to SiRT investigators that the police did not use excessive force. One described the officers as being very professional. The man himself referred to his actions that day as “his stupidness”.
The evidence showed the police had the right to arrest the man and that they used reasonable force to carry out that arrest as well as protect themselves. Unfortunately, when the man struggled his arm was broken unintentionally by one of the officers. In these circumstances there are no grounds to consider charges against either 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 independent civilian director Ron MacDonald, who is solely responsible for decisions respecting the laying of any charge.
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Media Contact: Ronald MacDonald, QC
Serious Incident Response Team
Director
902-424-8400
Cell: 902-718-9707
E-mail: macdonrj@gov.ns.ca
