West Hants District RCMP responded to 24 calls for service, a higher than usual call volume, over a 24-hour period from May 18 to May 19, 2021.
While many of the calls were considered routine, two serious incidents required multi-member responses and required investigators to devote significant time and resources.
Shortly after 4:00 p.m. on May 18, police responded to a complaint of an assault with a weapon at a home in Kempt Shore. Upon arrival at the scene, investigators determined that a 53-year-old man had been struck with an axe by a 26-year-old man. The 53-year-old was also assaulted by a 29-year-old woman. Both the 26-year-old man and the woman were arrested at the scene without incident and later released on conditions. Both will appear in Windsor Provincial Court at a later date.
At approximately 9:00 p.m., on May 18, police responded to a complaint of a robbery at a gas station in Brooklyn. Upon arrival at the scene, investigators determined that a 35-year-old woman had stolen liquor from the gas station, which is also an authorized liquor retailer, and when the woman was confronted by staff, she threatened them with a needle. The woman then left the store, got into a vehicle and fled the scene. The vehicle was located a short time later by East Hants District RCMP, and the 35-year-old woman and her driver, a 34-year-old woman, were both arrested without incident. A search warrant was subsequently executed at a residence in Sipekne'katik by the West Hants District RCMP Street Crime Enforcement Unit, in partnership with Sipekne'katik RCMP. Police seized clothing and liquor during the search.
Samantha May MacDonald, 35, of Sipekne'katik, has been charged with the following:
- Robbery – S.344(1)(b) CC
- Assault with a Weapon – S.267(a) CC (2 counts)
- Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose – S.88(2) CC
- Uttering Threats against a Person – S.264.1(1)(a) CC (2 counts)
- Theft under $5,000 – S.334(b) CC
Kathleen Andrea Brooks, 34, of Sipekne'katik, has been charged with the following:
- Robbery – S.344(1)(b) CC
- Theft under $5,000 – S.334(b) CC
Both women were also charged under the Health Protection Act for non-essential travel outside of their municipality. Both women were remanded into custody and will appear in Kentville Provincial Court later today.
The investigations in both cases are still ongoing.
File # 2021-678333, 2021-680087