SiRT Concludes Investigation into a Serious Injury Sustained During Arrest

The Director of the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) found no reasonable grounds to believe that an Amherst Police Department officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a serious injury sustained during an arrest.

On January 21, 2024, the SiRT received a referral from the Amherst Police Department.  Earlier that day, officers were dispatched to a local shelter regarding an adult male causing a disturbance. The first officer on scene attempted to peacefully remove the male from the premises, which was unsuccessful. A struggle ensued between the male and the officer. The officer deployed his Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW/taser), causing the male to fall onto a bench. The male was arrested and assessed at hospital where he was diagnosed with two fractured ribs and released.

The full report is available at http://sirt.novascotia.ca

The SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of a public interest to be investigated that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation.

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