FREDERICTON (GNB) – Nova Scotia’s independent Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) has concluded there are no grounds for criminal charges related to an incident in St. Stephen, where an RCMP officer discharged a service firearm, striking a civilian. This investigation was undertaken at the request of Justice and Public Safety through a memorandum of understanding.
On Sept. 16, 2021, police officers responded to a call placed by the affected person.
The summary report from SiRT states the subject officer and witness officer were both aware the person had assaulted someone with a machete earlier that morning. The person was still in possession of the machete when the officers first encountered him.
The report’s conclusion states the man refused to drop the machete, despite the officers’ attempts to de-escalate the situation; he then approached the officers with the weapon, against their orders to stop.
This description of events was confirmed by the officers involved and by the man in a statement he provided to the SiRT investigator.
According to the report, the subject officer had reasonable grounds to believe the force used was necessary to protect himself and his fellow officer from death or serious harm.
Officers administered first aid and the person was transported to hospital.
The report into this incident is available online.
03-05-22