N.B. RCMP officer did not steal money from home during search warrant: SiRT

The waiting area of the Serious Incident Response Team, the province's independent police watchdog agency, is seen in Halifax on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) says it does not believe a member of the New Brunswick RCMP stole money while executing a search warrant on a home in Rosedale, N.B., two years ago.

The RCMP searched a property on July 27, 2023, resulting in officers seizing firearms and cash, along with other evidence.

The homeowner and his common law partner were both charged with firearm offences, which were later withdrawn.

SiRT says the homeowner contacted RCMP on Nov. 28, 2024, to retrieve the items seized during the search.

He was advised that $120 would be returned to him. However, SiRT says the man stated the total amount taken was $1,200.

As a result, the RCMP contacted SiRT on Dec. 3, 2024, prompting an investigation.

According to SiRT’s report, a witness officer, who was present during the search, recalled seeing cash, but added it was no more than $200.

The homeowner couldn’t recall the exact amount of money he had in the home and did not provide any financial documents to confirm an amount.

“Even if the (homeowner) was able to prove the amount of cash in the residence, there is no evidence of who would have taken the money. There were multiple officers inside the residence during the arrest and search,” reads SiRT’s report.

SiRT says although the officer failed to follow policy in handling the exhibits, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether a theft or other offence had been committed.

SiRT is responsible for investigating matters involving death, serious injury, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or other matters that may have arisen from the actions of a police officer in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick.

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