RCMP Watch

The Ottawa Citizen - June 24, 2006

An Ottawa police officer accused of hitting a motorist with his flashlight and swearing at him appeared at a disciplinary hearing yesterday.

Const. Jacky Lord, 28, is charged with two counts of discreditable conduct and one count of unlawful exercise of authority, following an incident in October 2004.

Maxwell Mcatshelwa, 68, testified that on the evening of Oct. 2 of that year, during a heated discussion with Const. Lord about whether he had been drinking and driving, the officer hit him at least three times in the chest with an object, threw his driver’s licence and registration papers on the ground and told him to “go f…” himself.

In testimony yesterday, Const. Lord, who has been on the force since 2000, said when he approached Mr. Mcatshelwa, acting on a tip from a passerby, the man became loud and belligerent. Const. Lord said the man began shouting and hopping on one foot, mockingly, to “prove” his sobriety.

The officer said the man began inching toward him. In self-defence, the officer said, he held out his flashlight and the flashlight touched the man. He said there was no force and it only touched the man once, after which Mr. Mcatshelwa backed away. Mr. Mcatshelwa was not injured.

Const. Lord denies using any vulgar language.

Mr. Mcatshelwa’s lawyer, Emilio Binavince, said a message should be sent that police officers will be held accountable for their actions.

Mark Wallace, acting for the officer, said Mr. Mcatshelwa’s testimony does not make sense, and that the man overreacted to the officer’s inquiries.

A decision is expected Oct.3.
© The Ottawa Citizen 2006