A Yellowknife man is in custody after deploying bear-spray at the local courthouse.
The incident occurred just after 10:00 am on Wednesday, February 12th. Local officers were informed that a man inside the Yellowknife Courthouse had attempted to use bear-spray in some manner on the first and second floors. Nobody was injured in either incident, and the suspect quickly fled the scene on foot.
Officers pursued the man with the help of RCMP Police Dog Services. They were able to identify the suspect and chase him to an apartment complex. He then tried to flee again, but was caught after a brief foot chase.
32-year-old Justin Barnet has been charged with:
- Disguised with Intent to commit an Offence
- Mischief
- Resisting a Peace Officer, and
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
After appearing before a Justice of the Peace, Barnet has been returned to custody, and will be appearing in Territorial Court on February 14th.
When he was arrested, Barnet was under a Release Order. He was also the subject of an arrest warrant after he previously failed to appear in court in relation to prior charges of Breaking and Entering, Mischief, and Obstructing a Peace Officer.
