Fredericton police officer sent to jail for break-in at ex-girlfriend's home

Suspended Fredericton police officer Darrell Ian Brewer was sentenced Monday tofourmonths in jail for breaking into his ex-girlfriend's apartment.

Brewer, 41, pleaded guilty earlier this month to break and enter with intent and to breach of an undertaking.

He was taken into custody after the sentencing.

Brewer broke into thewoman's apartment after she tried to break up with him after dating over the summer, court was told.

The woman, who was identified only as J.M. in court, hastwo young children and hadn't told her ex-husband where she was living. He could only see their childrenfrom a neutral drop-off point in the area.

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But Brewer, who didn't want to end the relationship with J.M., threatened to tell herher ex-husband where she lives.

Brewer was apparently drunk when he broke into her apartment, court heard.

He had texted her several times leading up to the incident Sept. 1. That day, the woman was in her car with her children when she spotted him staggering down her road.

She parked around the corner and texted him:"I don't want you around. I don't want you here."

He responded: "You really need to answer. I'm freezing. Let me in."

After getting Brewer's text message, the woman called his brother. She watched from a distance as the brother picked Brewer up at her apartment.

When she entered the apartment herself, she discovered he'dbroken in and cut up all of her bedding "down to the mattress" with a pair of scissors he found. He also cut up clothing.

In addition to the jail term, JudgePierreDubsentenced Brewer to 12 months on probation and ordered a DNA sample be taken. Brewercannot possess or consume alcohol or non-prescription drugs.

A restitution order of close to $700 was also required because of damage to the property.

Brewer has already been suspended without pay under the New Brunswick Police Act and hasbeen seeing a psychologist since September.

Last winter, he wasfound guilty of impaired driving in the summer of 2015. He was fined $1,500 and barred from driving for a year.

After the impaired driving conviction in April 2017, a Police Act settlement outlined disciplinary and corrective measures for Brewer, including a suspension from his job and counselling in anger management.