Halifax Regional Police Report Released

The province's independent Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) released its fifth summary report today, Nov. 30.

 

The report deals with the arrest of a man on July 22 by members of the Halifax Regional Police.

 

The complete summary investigation report can be seen at http://novascotia.ca/just/sirt.asp .

 

In the report, SIRT's independent director, Ron MacDonald, concludes there are no grounds to consider criminal charges against any police in the matter.

 

At 2:30 a.m. on July 22, two Halifax Regional Police officers on foot patrol were asked by bouncers at the Palace nightclub to help them deal with a dispute on the sidewalk between a male and female. 

 

As they approached, the male ran from the police. While running down a nearby street, he lost his balance and fell hard into a wall of the Halifax Metro Centre. He got back up and continued to run until he fell again. Police arrested him at this point and charged him with public intoxication. 

 

He was taken to hospital where it was confirmed he had a broken his wrist, believed to have happened when he hit the Halifax Metro Centre wall.

 

During SIRT's investigation, the male gave two statements. In both he accepted full responsibility for the incident and his injury. He told the investigators that the police did nothing to cause him harm and that if he had not run he would not have been hurt. Reports were received from eight police officers who were in the area which were consistent with the male’s statements.

 

The director concluded that the police acted appropriately in their attempt to detain the male as they needed to investigate the incident in front of the Palace.

 

"The police were justified in chasing after the male. His broken wrist was caused by his decision to run very fast, in an intoxicated state, down a very steep street. As he acknowledged, if he followed police commands he would not have been injured."

 

SIRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia, whether or not there is an allegation of wrongdoing. Investigations are under the direction and control of the independent civilian director. 

 

SIRT can independently launch an investigation or begin an investigation after a referral from a chief of police, the head of the RCMP in Nova Scotia or the Minister of Justice. It can also investigate after a public complaint.

 

The Police Act requires the director to file a public report summarizing the results of the investigation within three months after it is finished. A copy of the summary is also to be provided to the Minister of Justice and the police agency involved.