**** SiRT Media Release
HRP Officers Cleared in Struggle with Man
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The province’s Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) released its report today regarding the investigation into an interaction between an adult male and two Halifax Police Officers which resulted in injuries to the man’s leg.
On August 13, 2021, Halifax Regional Police were called to a Halifax hotel in relation to a male who was in breach of court-imposed release conditions. The officers approached the male in the foyer of the hotel and stated he was under arrest for breaching his release conditions. When the officers attempted to place the male in handcuffs, he became agitated and began to actively avoid being arrested. The officers attempted to control him but, in their effort to do so, the officers and the male fell into and shattered a floor to ceiling glass wall into an office space, causing a substantial laceration to the man’s leg.
The main question was whether the officers used excessive force during the arrest. Given the aggressiveness of the male, the actions of the officers in this matter were reasonable to effect the arrest. As a result, the evidence did not support any finding that the officers involved should face any criminal charges.
A complete copy of the 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 Felix Cacchione.
