‘Coffee with a Cop’ comes to Sackville, local RCMP says crime not on the rise locally
Officers from the Southeast District RCMP hosted an open house event at the Tim Horton’s on Main Street in Sackville on Friday. About 30 people dropped in to meet with the officers during the two hour event Friday morning. Among them were Tantramar councillor Mike Tower, Mayor Andrew Black, Dorchester fire chief Greg Partridge, and Ambulance NB operations manager Mark Hicks.
Sergeant Martin Janson is a supervisor for the Southeast District, and organized the event as part of a series of ‘Coffee with a Cop’ events throughout the region, in turn part of a larger trend of similar events happening across North America.
Janson was joined by Sackville’s community police officer Melanie Belliveau, as well as Sackville detachment Sergeant Eric Hanson, who took a moment near the end of the session to speak with CHMA.
Hanson said the event was “a great opportunity for us to connect with members of the community in a friendly setting where people can ask us questions, interact with us.” Hanson said the officers heard questions about the job, and also heard concerns about “traffic and behaviour and things that are going on in their community.”
“One lady came up to report that she needed our help this afternoon,” said Hanson, “so we’re going to go help her out disposing of some ammunition at her house.”… Continue
Man dead, two charged with second degree murder after weekend stabbing incident
Residents of Sackville and area are still reeling from the death of a Sackville man over the weekend.
Shawn Mitton was a 44-year-old father of four, and had recently opened a business on Main Street in Sackville. Forty-Six & 2 Creative Upholstery was incorporated last spring, and according to posts on social media, Mitton had recently moved into his new shop and expanded the business to a full time operation.
Since the news of his death, many are making efforts to raise funds in support of Mitton’s children. An account in Mitton’s name is set up at Wheaton’s Recycling to collect funds for the family, and collections jars and 50-50 draws at some upcoming Sackville Minor Hockey events are being organized. Mitton was a volunteer hockey coach and announcer.
Two arrested remain in custody
The New Brunswick RCMP Major Crime Unit is investigating Mitton’s death as a homicide, and have arrested and charged two Sackville men, Tyler Murphy and Dylan Murphy, with second degree murder.
The two Murphys appeared separately in Moncton provincial court on Tuesday morning, represented temporarily by laywers on duty, who asked the court for an adjournment until next week. Tyler Murphy waived the reading of the charge against him, but the judge read the charge of second degree murder to Dylan Murphy, who said he understood. Dylan Murphy’s duty counsel said he would apply to legal aid as soon as he returned to jail in Shediac.
The crown asked that both men remain in custody until they are due back in court next Wednesday, March 27 at 9:30am.… Continue
Rash of stolen vehicles appear to be used for joy riding, police remind drivers not to leave keys in cars
A rash of vehicle thefts is plaguing the Sackville region, with at least five vehicles reported stolen in the past two weeks.
Sergeant Eric Hanson told CHMA via email that since November 30, a truck and a car in Memramcook, and a car in Sackville were stolen and later recovered. Earlier, on November 21, two trucks were reported stolen in Sackville, with one immediately recovered nearby.
One vehicle that was located on December 2 was “completely burned”, said Hanson.
Hanson says the stolen vehicles appear to have been used for joy riding. No arrests have been made in the thefts.
Hanson says that In at least four of the five recent vehicle thefts, the keys were left inside the vehicle before it was stolen. Hanson issued a reminder to the public to lock vehicle doors, and never leave keys inside a car. He also says valuables should not be left in vehicles, especially in plain view. … Continue
RCMP release more information about Pond Shore Road operation
The RCMP have yet to lay charges after a series of arrests stemming from a police operation at a home on Pond Shore Road on November 22nd.
The 6am police raid by the RCMP Emergency Response Team blew out the windows of the home at 106 Pond Shore Road, and resulted in seven arrests, according to a previous police statement.
In a news release Wednesday afternoon, about one week after the incident, the RCMP say they were executing a search warrant in connection with a drug trafficking investigation that began on November 15. The statement goes on:
“During the search, police seized, significant quantities of what is believed to be cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine pills, hydromorphone pills, and a large amount of money. Police also seized nine unsafely stored firearms including a prohibited rifle and a restricted handgun. Nearly 55,000 contraband cigarettes, and drug trafficking paraphernalia were also seized.”
Wednesday’s release says just three men were arrested at the scene on November 22. A 39-year-old Sackville man was remanded into custody on outstanding warrants, and is scheduled to appear in court on December 28. The other two men, a 37-year-old from Sackville and a 40-year-old from Nova Scotia, were later released from custody.
The investigation was led by the RCMP’s Provincial Crime Reduction Unit, which focusses on “disrupting and dismantling the trafficking of illegal drugs”.… Continue
Crossman found responsible for actions; seeks second opinion
A Sackville man accused of murdering and dismembering his spouse has been granted a six week adjournment in court proceedings so that he can get a second opinion on whether or not he can be held criminally responsible for his actions.
Roger Hilyard Crossman appeared by videoconference in Moncton Provincial Court on Thursday morning, in what was slated as a plea and election hearing for the two charges against the 62-year-old.
Crossman was represented by Saint Antoine lawyer Tim Dubé, who told the court that his client wanted a second opinion, in part based on a language barrier during his psychiatric assessment at the Restigouche Hospital Centre in Campbellton. Dubé asked for either a second assessment to be conducted at the Restigouche centre, or time to arrange for a private psychiatrist to evaluate Crossman.
Crown prosecutor Martine Cormier told Judge Ronald LeBlanc that the results of the original psychiatric assessment, which Leblanc had in sealed envelope, found that Crossman was responsible for his actions. The judge asked both Cormier and Dubé if the report contained any grounds to order a second assessment at the Restigouche centre. Neither could provide any.
Dubé asked the court for six weeks adjournment to allow time for a privately arranged psychiatric assessment, and also for the lawyer to receive and review disclosure from the prosecutor. Leblanc granted the adjournment and set a date for another hearing on January 8, 2024.
Leblanc suggested setting a preliminary hearing date in order to save time in the process, but both prosecution and defense lawyers suggested that wait until January 8.… Continue
RCMP recommends single municipal contract with 3 more officers for amalgamated Tantramar
Tantramar council will soon decide on the future of the municipal and provincial policing service agreements–the MPSA and PPSA–that govern how the RCMP police the region. Currently, the RCMP are under an MPSA with the former town of Sackville, and a PPSA with the former village of Dorchester and local service districts.
“The federal government has advised us that we cannot have two [contracts],” treasurer Michael Beal told council on Monday. “So we do need to have one contract, either an MPSA or PPSA.”
Beal shared some analysis done by the RCMP ultimately recommending that the town move to an MPSA covering the new area, with an increase in the number of officers in the contract.
Currently the Sackville MPSA calls for ten officers to patrol the former town of Sackville, which had a population of about 6,100 as of the last census in 2021. After amalgamation, Tantramar’s new population was just over 9,000. The physical area of the municipality expanded to a much greater degree, going from about 74 square kilometres to 704 square kilometres.
Councillor Allison Butcher wondered about why the RCMP recommended only increasing their complement by three officers. “A 50% increase in our population, almost 10 times the land mass, yet they think only three more officers will be enough?” wondered Butcher.
Councillor Matt Estabrooks also raised the issue of the ‘cop to pop’ ratio, which would go from 1.64 officers per 1000 people in the Sackville contract, down to 1.44 officers for 1000 people in the new MPSA.… Continue
Dorchester man arrested and charged with assault with a weapon
A 46-year-old man from Dorchester has been charged with assault with a weapon and a number of other charges. Cory Kevin Lucci was arrested by Sackville RCMP on October 19 in Dorchester, and has appeared in court twice since, but remains in police custody. Lucci is due back in court on November 2, to set a date for a bail hearing.
In addition to assault with a weapon, Lucci is charged with uttering threats, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of fentanyl, oxycodone and cannabis for the purposes of trafficking, and impaired driving.
In a news release, the Sackville RCMP say they executed a search warrant at a residence after they arrested Lucci. Police says they seized a firearm, knives, ammunition, a prohibited weapon, and quantities of what is believed to be cannabis, fentanyl, oxycodone, and contraband cigarettes.
Police says the investigation continues.… Continue
Police looking for help identifying suspect in lumberyard theft
The Sackville RCMP have put out a call for help regarding the theft of roofing material that took place on Mallard Drive in September.
Sergeant Eric Hanson of the Sackville detachment says police were dispatched to Payzant’s Home Hardware in Sackville in the early morning of September 19, 2023, in response to report of a theft. Sometime between 3:30am and 5:20am that morning someone cut the lock to the lumberyard and stole 26 packs of roof shingles and four rolls of Weathertex roofing material. The materials are valued at about $1700.
Hanson says the suspect was driving a black Ford F150, “and in the process of getting in and out of there actually broke the passenger mirror on their vehicle.” The suspect was captured on video and appeared to be a white male wearing a green bandana covering his face, a red t shirt, a black hoodie, blue jeans and black shoes.
“As of now, this person has not yet been identified, but we’re reaching out to the public for help,” says Hanson. “If anybody may have seen somebody matching that description or that vehicle in the Sackville area around that time, we encourage them to call the RCMP.”
Hanson says police don’t believe the theft is connected to others in the region.
The call for public help is coming weeks after the incident occurred, and Hanson says there’s no special reason for the delay outside of scheduling of officers, and the process for news releases to be prepared and approved.… Continue
Fine of $1200 after ‘driving without due care’ put Mount Allison student in critical condition
The man who hit and seriously injured a young Mount Allison student crossing Main Street in a crosswalk last December has pled guilty to a charge of driving without due care and attention.
Andrew McGann appeared in Moncton provincial court on July 4 to plead guilty to the charge, and will be required to pay a fine of $1200.
The young man McGann hit was sent to a Halifax hospital in critical condition after the collision. RCMP Sergeant Eric Hanson told CHMA the young man has since been released from hospital and continues his recovery.
Crown prosecutors dropped a second charge against McGann of failing to yield. Prosecutor Annie St-Jacques says it’s not uncommon in the case of a guilty plea on one Motor Vehicle Act charge to see a related charge withdrawn.
The collision occurred at the crosswalk on Main Street at King. Witnesses say the lights in the crosswalk were flashing when the young man crossed, and traffic in one direction had stopped.… Continue
Driver to face two charges after seriously injuring pedestrian in December
The man who hit and seriously injured a young man crossing Main Street in a crosswalk last December has been charged with two offences related to the collision.
Andrew McGann has been charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian and driving without due care and attention. McGann is due to make his first appearance in a Moncton courtroom on July 4, 2023.
The person McGann struck with his vehicle is a young Mount Allison student, who after the collision was sent to a Halifax hospital in critical condition. RCMP Sergeant Eric Hanson says the young man has since been released from hospital and continues his recovery.
The collision occurred at the crosswalk on Main Street at King. Witnesses say the lights in the crosswalk were flashing when the young man crossed, and traffic in one direction had stopped.
The collision raised concerns over traffic safety at the crosswalk, and also Ambulance NB response times. It took 27 minutes for an ambulance to arrive on the collision scene, in part due to another emergency call that came in just 14 minutes beforehand.
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