West Hants RCMP officer being investigated by police watchdog

Last Updated May 6, 2024 05:53:14 PM.

A Nova Scotia RCMP officer has been assigned to administrative duties following an alleged use of excessive force incident.

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), the police watchdog, says it received reports from the RCMP and Department of Community Services on Friday about a situation that happened on March 8.

West Hants RCMP officers arrested a "vulnerable" female youth and a struggle ensued as she was being placed in the police cells by two officers.

"The youth struck one of the officers and one of the officers struck the youth multiple times," SiRT director Erin Nauss wrote in a news release.

RCMP Superintendent Dan Morrow issued a statement saying the Mounties take the allegation seriously and will be fully cooperating with the investigation.

"The member has been placed on administrative duties and we have initiated an internal code of conduct investigation," Morrow said. "The member's duty status will be reassessed upon the outcome of SiRT's independent investigation and the code of conduct investigation."

SiRT investigates death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of public interest involving police officers.