Drummond and off-duty Halifax cop both charged

William Drummond, the man who knocked Whynot out in a June 22 fight outside a Digby bar, has been charged with “causing a disturbance in a public place by fighting” and “resisting a peace officer in the execution of his duties.”

Both will appear on Sept. 22, at Digby Provincial Court

The charges are the result of an investigation by the RCMP’s Southwest Nova Major Crime Unit. Staff Sergeant Phil Barrett asked them to handle the case after charges of racism were levelled at the Digby RCMP officers who intervened in the disturbance—and the van full of off-duty Nova Scotia police officers who were present at the scene.

Drummond and his friend, Nathaniel Fells, who are both black, said the June 22 fight occurred after a white man directed a racial slur at them as they were walking down Water Street. They said that Whynot threw a punch at Drummond and missed. Drummond responded with a punch that knocked Whynot out.

Drummond said he and Fells then ran down the street with two local uniformed officers and the men from the van in pursuit. Drummond said a Digby RCMP officer then shot him with a Taser.

RCMP Sgt Mark Gallagher says the RCMP interviewed “all of the witnesses willing to come forward” and have nothing that supports Fells’ and Drummond’s allegations of racial slurs.

Gallagher also says the tasering of Drummond was appropriate. “They dealt with the person who was causing the most disturbance.”

Gallagher added the investigation revealed only one conductive energy device was discharged, and it was discharged only once.

Const. Jeff Carr, a spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Police Force said an internal investigation is still going on. Whynot, a three-year member of the force is on administrative duty pending the outcome of the Sept 22 court date.