Fredericton cop accused of assault, threats
Const. Colin Holmes, 25, suspended with pay pending outcome of case against him
A Fredericton police officer is on suspension after being accused of assaulting and threatening a Hanwell woman, and of forcing his way into her home two months ago.
Const. Colin Holmes, 25, of Fredericton, was charged this fall by the Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) with three counts: a summary assault on Deidra Wheeler, a threat to kill her and forcible entry into her home.
The charges allege events Sept. 24 in Hanwell.
SIRT is an independent, Nova Scotia law-enforcement agency that investigates police actions alleging death or injury as a result of officer actions, or violent offences officers are accused of committing.
The provincial governments of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick finalized an agreement in February to have SIRT handle the same independent police oversight function in this province as well.
Holmes wasn’t present in Fredericton provincial court when his case was called, but defence lawyer T.J. Burke appeared on his behalf.
He said he still needs time to obtain and review Crown disclosure in the case, and Judge Henrik Tonning adjourned pleas on the summary charges to Nov. 27.
A city police force spokesperson confirmed Wednesday the officer isn’t on active duty at the moment.
“Const. Colin Holmes is currently suspended with pay from the Fredericton Police Force,” Megan Barker wrote in an email to the Fredericton Independent.
She noted the file had been reviewed by the Nova Scotia SIRT, and she referred all further questions about the case to that agency.
SIRT didn’t respond to an inquiry Wednesday about how the case came to the team’s attention.
A 2019 post on the Fredericton Police Force’s Facebook page shows Holmes joined the force that year.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.
suspended with pay. in other words, he's on vacation.
The cops should be suspended with out pay . Everyone else would be there no better