Halifax police officer won’t be charged after SiRT sexual assault investigation

The waiting area of the Serious Incident Response Team, the province's independent police watchdog agency, is seen in Halifax on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. The agency investigates deaths, serious injuries, sexual assaults, domestic violence and other matters of public interest involving police officers. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan)

The director of the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) in Nova Scotia found “no reasonable grounds” to lay charges against a Halifax Regional Police (HRP) officer accused of sexual assault during an arrest, said a Wednesday new release.

HRP referred the allegation to SiRT on June 13, 2024. The alleged assault happened the day before.

SiRT began canvassing for witnesses and conducting interviews immediately as part of the investigation. They reviewed video footage, notes and police and medical reports.

HRP responded to a complaint from a Purdy’s Wharf parking garage security guard regarding an intoxicated male and female on June 12, said SiRT’s summary of the investigation. The security guard said he was assaulted by the man when he tried to stop them from driving.

Police followed the man and woman away from the parking garage, said the report, and placed the woman under arrest for intoxication. She resisted and bit a police officer, who had to go to the hospital, said the summary.

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The woman was taken in an HRP vehicle. She hit her head on the inside of the vehicle and was taken to hospital to be assessed where she told staff the officer physically and sexually assaulted her during the arrest.

A complete summary of SiRT’s investigation is available through the team’s website.

The director of SiRT said, “I have determined that there are no reasonable grounds to lay a charge against the SO as I cannot conclude an offence has been committed,” in the conclusion of the summary.

The director of SiRT is required to release a public report within three months of concluding an investigation.

SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or any other matter of public interest involving the actions of police officers in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick.

An independent civilian director oversees SiRT investigations and has sole authority to determine if charges should be laid.

For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.