Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

Man walked naked out of shower, found Mountie in his bedroom: lawsuit

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Sep, 2023 05:07 PM
  • Man walked naked out of shower, found Mountie in his bedroom: lawsuit

A British Columbia man who is suing the RCMP claims he walked naked out of his shower to find a female uniformed Mountie standing in his bedroom.

Kirk Forbes says the encounter in his Coquitlam home in June 2022 left him "shocked, confused and embarrassed."

Mounties say in a news release issued Tuesday that the officers entered the home when they found that it appeared "insecure."

In a notice of civil claim filed in July, Forbes says it was only after he asked the woman why she was in his home that she identified herself as an RCMP officer, then asked him his name and said she was there to serve him a traffic ticket.

Forbes was told the violation happened in Pemberton, but he says in the claim he was unaware of any traffic violation.

He says after he got dressed, he went to his living room where he found a male officer searching his home. 

He was told the officers had knocked on his door and "it had flung open" so they went in, the claim says. The female officer then "joked mockingly that perhaps they should investigate whether a break-in had occurred."

Forbes says he was unsatisfied with that explanation and with the officer's levity, which made him feel unsafe. He became "increasingly upset, angry and shocked," the claim says.

It says the Mounties served him his violation ticket and left the home.

In the lawsuit, Forbes alleges the RCMP officers "abused their authority and power," by walking into his home without his permission or a warrant to serve the ticket.

The Coquitlam Mounties say in the news release they are aware of the claim and that officers entered "what appeared to be an insecure premise" to serve a traffic violation ticket.

RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Alexa Hodgins said in an interview that because there is litigation pending, there are limitations on what she can disclose. But she said there are circumstances in which an officer can enter someone's property.

"There's case law that if there's an insecure premise that police have a duty to make sure that nobody's injured inside and the only way you can do that is to enter," she said.

She said examples include "a window being smashed, or a door opening or maybe the doors already open — those types of things."

The RCMP news release says the resident raised concerns about the officers' presence in his home, but police believed they had "dealt with those concerns informally" before the man initiated a formal public complaint.

Forbes said in the statement of claim that he initially contacted the Coquitlam detachment and made an informal complaint about the situation. He said he was told they would investigate and report back to him.

After several weeks without an update, he said he went to the detachment, where a receptionist allegedly referred to him as "the shower guy."

"It was apparent to the plaintiff that the incident had been discussed amongst other members and employees of the Coquitlam RCMP detachment which caused the plaintiff further anxiety, embarrassment, and upset," the lawsuit said.

This, the lawsuit said, is what led him to make a formal complaint to the Civilian Complaints Commission for the RCMP on May 12, 2023.

The RCMP statement says the incident is now under investigation, which will include a review of documentation, radio transmissions, and the informal process.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

2 homicides in Prince George

2 homicides in Prince George
The Mounties say in the first incident, a woman was found dead in a Prince George home on July 17. They say a day later, a 22-year-old woman was found dead in what police say was a targeted event.  

2 homicides in Prince George

Industrial board warns union bosses not to backtrack on new B.C. port deal

Industrial board warns union bosses not to backtrack on new B.C. port deal
The board's order issued Sunday also says the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada must hold a ratification vote on the deal with employers no later than Friday, and restricts both sides from commenting to the media, beyond a single joint-statement announcing the agreement.  

Industrial board warns union bosses not to backtrack on new B.C. port deal

No charges for dog handler

No charges for dog handler
A dog handler with the Abbotsford Police Department will not face charges linked to an arrest more than two years ago where the suspect was seriously injured. The Independent Investigations Office looked into the March 2021 arrest and determined the officer may have committed offences.  

No charges for dog handler

Vancouver collision kills 1 and sends 7 to hospital

Vancouver collision kills 1 and sends 7 to hospital
Investigators believe the fatal collision occurred at 1:55 a.m. Monday, when a red Cadillac struck a taxi, then broad-sided a ride-share vehicle at the intersection of Main Street and East 12 Avenue, in Mount Pleasant. The force of the collision killed the 26-year-old Uber driver, who was alone in his vehicle. The taxi driver and two passengers were taken to hospital for precautionary reasons.

Vancouver collision kills 1 and sends 7 to hospital

Indian man admits smuggling people from his country into US via Canada

Indian man admits smuggling people from his country into US via Canada
A 40-year-old Indian national living in Canada has pleaded guilty to smuggling several Indian nationals from Canada into the US for profit. Simranjit 'Shally' Singh admitted to six counts of alien smuggling and three counts of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling during an appearance in Albany, New York on Friday.  

Indian man admits smuggling people from his country into US via Canada

Mom in B.C. Amber Alert charged with abduction after children found safe in Alberta

Mom in B.C. Amber Alert charged with abduction after children found safe in Alberta
Police arrested two adults and detained a third during the recovery of the missing children, and the two arrested individuals — the children's 45-year-old mother and her 53-year-old boyfriend — have been charged with variations of different abduction charges.

Mom in B.C. Amber Alert charged with abduction after children found safe in Alberta