Yellowknife RCMP have charged two men in connection with a weekend incident that saw RCMP use a Taser to subdue and arrest a suspect downtown.
A Taser, otherwise known as a Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) device was deployed by RCMP after officers responded to the scene of an “altercation” near the area of 51 Ave and 50 Street around 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.
Police learned two suspects were allegedly involved in the altercation, with the first assaulting the other.
“Suspect two,” found on the ground by police following the alleged assault by “suspect one,” ended up being tasered by police, according to a news release issued by RCMP on Tuesday.
Police say they were able to apprehend the first suspect, who tried to flee the scene, with the help of public witnesses. The second suspect, police say, then became violent with officers and bystanders at the scene.
He was tasered and arrested by Mounties as a result, states the news release. The man was taken to hospital before being released and brought back to RCMP cells. According to police, he was again taken to Stanton Territorial Hospital later on for “further medical assessment on the earlier assault.” The man was released and transported by to RCMP cells.
Tristan Mercredi, 19, is charged with one count of resisting arrest, and one count of breaching probation. Bryce Burles, 24, faces charges of assault with a weapon, assault, uttering threats and causing a disturbance.
Both of the accused have since being released from custody after making court appearances earlier this week, state RCMP.
Yellowknife RCMP, which urged witnesses of the weekend incident to come forward, are thanking Yellowknife residents following the charges.
“The assistance from members of the public in directing our members to where the first suspect was attempting to flee allowed us to bring him quickly into custody. We are thankful this incident was resolved without serious injury,” states Sgt. Yannick Hamel, operations manager at the Yellowknife detachment.