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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

City Police Officer Found Guilty On Two Charges

An 11 year veteran of the Saint John Police Department has been found guilty of common assault and engaging in threatening conduct. Constable Chris Messer will be sentenced on September 7th.

Mr. Justice Hugh McLellen found Messer not guilty of assault causing bodily harm and uttering a death threat but says the police officer was profoundly unprofessional and in a conflict of interest by investigating a breakin at his home on Westfield Road in September of 2010. 

He condemned that as a breach of trust that could bring the administration of justice into disrepute.  

The judge couldn't understand why Messer was allowed to question Brett McAdam by the side of the Canadian Tire Store alone after suspecting McAdam's car may have been involved in breakins along Westfield Road.

The judge also finds it baffling why Messer was allowed to transport Randy King from the west side to the detention area when he suspected King had broken into his home.  

While finding Messer guilty on the two charges, the judge made clear the credibility of his two accusers was weak.  

Mr. Justice McLellen called an email sent by Messer to his fellow police officers to be on the lookout for a car matching the description of the one driven by McAdam as "hostile".