UPDATED: Violent Disturbance at Cold Lake Seniors’ Jamboree

UPDATE

On March 6, 2016, at approximately 12:45 p.m. Cold Lake RCMP were called to the Cold Lake Seniors’ Centre during a Jamboree, for a male who had wondered in and was causing a disturbance at the centre.  Cold Lake RCMP arrested 41 year old Darcey David MacDonald of Cold Lake, who resisted arrest.  It took several minutes to bring the arrest under control, which led to damage throughout the main floor area of the senior’s centre.

Darcey MacDonald has been charged with two counts of assaulting a peace officer, two counts of resisting arrest, as well as overcoming resistance by choking to commit an indictable offence.  Darcey MacDonald was remanded into custody and will next appear at Cold Lake Provincial Court on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. Prior to departing the scene, Cold Lake RCMP with the assistance of Cold Lake Peace Officers cleaned up the damage for the senior citizens.

Victim Services was brought in to assist with the individuals who witnessed the altercation.  Two Cold Lake RCMP members were treated for minor injuries at Cold Lake Hospital.

*Press Release from the Cold Lake RCMP Detachment

BACKGROUND

Seniors attending a Sunday afternoon Jamboree were unfortunately witness to a man who put up a violent struggle with police. The Cold Lake RCMP were called to the Seniors’ Centre, in Cold Lake North, around 12:45 pm, after a man had stumbled into the Jamboree and was acting disoriented and aggressive. S/Sgt. Jeremie Landry, with the Cold Lake Detachment, says the man caused minor injury to a police officer and exuded a large amount of strength while resisting arrest, a trait consistent with drug use.

“There was a gathering at the Seniors’ Centre and a male in his early 30s had wandered in and was displaying bizarre behaviour, which concerned the seniors that were there.” The police were called and when they arrived, they attempted to arrest the man, who resisted, explains S/Sgt. Landry, “he showed extreme strength, which could be linked to drug use. There was a very lengthy and violent arrest that took place in the main area, with the us eventually gaining control of the suspect.”  One officer received minor injuries during the altercation, which also left the Seniors’ Centre’s hallway damage.

Police officers stayed back following the incident to clean-up the damage caused by the man. “One of the walls at the Seniors’ Centre had a big hole. The arrest spanned the entire lobby, of the Seniors’ Centre, wall-to-wall, completely down the hallway. It was very violent.” The officers, with the assistance of the Cold Lake City Peace Officers cleaned up everything, “they didn’t have a cleaner that could come quickly, so the officers did that for them,” a very kind move that is not a typical requirement of officers.

Many people attending the Jamboree were unfortunately witnesses to the arrest, “he didn’t target the Seniors’ Centre, it just happened to be where he ended up. There’s no reason to believe [the suspect] went there intentionally.”

The suspect was transported to hospital, treated for his injuries and released into police custody. S/Sgt. Landry confirms that the man, although not known to the Cold Lake RCMP, does have a record. Numerous charges are pending; likely included are resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer. The Cold Lake RCMP Detachment is expected to release further information on this case.