Campbellton RCMP officer found guilty of assault committed during 2021 arrest

A New Brunswick judge has found a Campbellton RCMP officer guilty of assault in connection to a violent arrest caught on video almost threeyears ago.

Provincial court Judge Brigitte Sivretdelivered her decision against Const. Pierrick Caronin a packed courtroom Wednesday. Caron was accompanied by his partner, members of his family and colleagues from the RCMP.

In rendering her decision, Sivret said the amount offorce Caron used during his arrest of AndrMercierwas "disproportionate and unreasonable."

"Const.Caron's police intervention towards Mercier...was not justified, the force used was not necessary and this force was definitely excessive in the circumstances," Sivret said Wednesday.

Caron was charged with assaultingMercier following an altercation on July 2, 2021 outside a Tim Hortons restaurant on Roseberry Street in Campbellton.

WATCH | Violent arrest caught on cellphone video:

Officer found guilty of assault for violent arrest

7 months ago

Duration 1:17

In this video taken in 2021, the RCMP officer appears to strike the suspect several times in the head and chest during an arrest.

The arrest was captured on cell phone camera by passerbyRmi Savoie, whotestified at trial that he did so because what was happening didn't seem right.

Caron also testified during histrial last October, sayinghe had dealt with Mercier earlier in the day when staff at a Sobeys requested that a trespass notice be issued against him.

Caron said he was later called to a disturbance at the Tim Hortons, where he said Mercier appeared to be intoxicated. Healso testified he suspected Mercier had committed a robbery, and attempted to arrest him when things escalated.

Caron said he used what he described as a "distraction" technique on Mercier.

He admitted to punching Mercier repeatedly, but said the goal of the blows was to control the situation, not to hurt Mercier.

In giving her verdict, Sivret said she had difficulty with Caron's testimony, noting his version of events were contradicted by eyewitnesses.

"[Caron's] testimony is unreliable and does not represent what happened," Sivret said.

She also said Mercier was known in the community as someone who had mental health challenges, and was known to police.She said comments by Caronled her to believe he had intended to arrest Mercier well before suspecting him of shoplifting.

Caronwill be back in court for sentencing on June 11.