Woman hurt in encounter with cops
Serious Incident Response Team brought in to investigate injurious arrest in Fredericton
A woman whom police encountered in the course of a call for assistance was hurt during the interaction with officers earlier this month, and it’s led to an investigation by the regional police watchdog agency.
The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) - which investigates police-involved incidents of injury and death in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to determine if there’s any criminality at play - announced Wednesday it’s investigating an April 4 incident in Fredericton in which a woman sustained a serious injury during an interaction with Fredericton police officers.
“On the afternoon of April 4, 2025, members of the Fredericton Police Force responded to a call related to an adult female who was considering self harm,” the release said.
“The officers attended the female’s place of residence and assessed that she was a risk to herself.”
SiRT said Fredericton officers arrested her under the authority of the Mental Health Act and taken to the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital.
“The female was handcuffed, and while being placed in a room in the hospital by police, she went to the floor and has reported she sustained serious injuries to her face,” the release said.
The city police force issued its own release shortly after SiRT’s, generally confirming the same details, though employing slightly different wording.
It said the woman, while being escorted to a waiting room at the hospital, “fell to the ground resulting in serious injuries being sustained to her face.”
It said the Fredericton Police Force requested SiRT’s involvement with the matter, and that the officers involved remain on active duty in the capital.
“The Fredericton Police Force considers incidents involving duty of care serious and we continue to hold our members to the highest standard of accountability in this respect,” Chief Gary Forward said in the release.
“We are confident that SiRT will conduct a thorough, independent and transparent investigation.”
SiRT investigations fall under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, the first release said, and following an investigation, that official alone determines if criminal charges are merited.
The Fredericton Independent can be reached at ftonindependent@gmail.com.