The province’s independent Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) today released its report regarding an investigation into a June 11, 2016 motor vehicle crash in Coxheath, Cape Breton, which followed a pursuit by Cape Breton Regional Police (CBRP).
At around 9:30 p.m. police received 911 calls in relation to a vehicle being driven erratically in the parking lot of the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre. At one point the driver had stopped and tried to pick a fight with a group of youths. The driver appeared to be impaired by alcohol. Police initially were unable to locate the vehicle, but did so about 15 minutes later when it returned to the parking lot. When the CBRP officer attempted to stop the car, it sped off southerly on the Coxheath road. The officer pursued for a total of 45 seconds and made the decision to discontinue the pursuit just prior to the crash.
SIRT has determined there are no grounds to consider any charges against the police officer.