The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary hired a private flight to return the accused killer Sheldon Hibbs to St. Louis. John’s from Calgary in March, according to documents obtained by CBC News. The force said he had been banned from flying commercials.
Hibbs, 27, was arrested in Calgary on March 11 on a Canada-wide warrant for second-degree murder for the death of Michael King, 68. King’s body was discovered in a road between Waterford Valley High School and Holbrook Avenue at the west end. of St. John on May 30, 2021.
Documents obtained through a request for access to information show that the RNC was struggling to bring Hibbs back to Newfoundland after two of its officers went to Alberta to do so.
At one point, the force even considered paying for a WestJet Boeing 737 at a cost of more than $ 130,000.
“When it comes to renting an aircraft, even if we could accommodate this notice, it is extremely expensive, so we recommend that you contact the RCMP, as they may have aircraft available that would be more appropriate. for this type of transport. “wrote a WestJet representative.
Police responded that the need for transportation was urgent.
“The man has been charged with murder. We understand that renting can be expensive, but the timeframe for the RCMP plane is not working due to time constraints to ensure a speedy court appearance for the So we are currently looking at all the options available, “said Const. Jamie Carroll.
Prohibited from commercial flights
The RNC requested multiple quotes for private flights and sent them to the provincial government for approval, according to emails.
The provincial government and RNC eventually chose Gander-based EVAS Air to build the charter at a cost of $ 91,885.
In an emailed statement, an RNC spokesman said police were forced to look into other options following an incident that took place during their first attempt to return Hibbs to St. Louis. John’s.
“As a result of an event during the first attempt by RNC officers to transport Hibbs to RNC jurisdiction, Hibbs was banned from commercially operated flights,” RNC Const wrote. James Cadigan.
Cadigan said he could not explain what happened during the first attempt to transfer Hibbs, as the case is before the courts.
In a statement, Air Canada said it has “zero tolerance policies for any kind of disruption, including disruptive behavior” for which the airline says it has “well-established procedures” for working with local authorities.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary was named in a wooded area of the Waterford Valley at the western end of St. John’s in May 2021, where officers discovered King’s body. (Ted Dillon / CBC)
Alberta RCMP spokesman Logan Fraser confirmed that the RNC asked for his help after Hibbs withdrew from the flight because he was “undisciplined.”
Fraser said it is a request that the RCMP would normally accept. However, he said there would have been multiple stops along the way with different provinces and divisions.
It would have taken “a lot of time and effort,” Fraser said, and it was unclear if the RCMP would be able to return Hibbs to the province in time.
Internal emails between the RNC and the provincial government explain what the RNC’s main concerns were.
In response to questions from a Provincial Council official, Insp. Tom Warren said time was of the essence and that Hibbs had to be transferred immediately to protect his charter rights.
“It could be argued that we are illegally detaining an individual,” Warren wrote. He said the RNC had consulted two Crown prosecutors.
Warren said a Newfoundland and Labrador provincial court judge would not have the capacity to detain a defendant at a facility in Alberta.
“We have explored with a lawyer the option of having a six-day pretrial detention extension and also having the person appear by video / phone from Alberta. We have been informed that in these circumstances it is not an option,” he said. Warren. .
Cadigan said the Calgary police service arrested Hibbs, but the RNC had to execute the order. He said the law requires that the accused be detained no more than six days before returning to the jurisdiction where the crime is alleged to have taken place.
Prisoner transfers are often made on commercial flights
According to Michael Arntfield, a professor of criminology at Western University and a former police officer, it is unusual for a police force to rent a private jet.
He noted that prisoners regularly travel on commercial flights with police officers.
Most members of the public would never know because the process often “runs pretty well,” Arntfield said.
Michael Arntfield, a former police officer, author and professor of criminology at Western University, says it is unusual for a police force to rent a private jet. (The National)
“I can’t talk about the RNC’s budget or how it distributes its funds normally, but I can tell you that an expense like this with a municipal police service would be carefully examined,” he said.
“Again, they may have money from the house to play with. The question is, then, was this the optimal use of that excess money? And frankly, I’m not sure, or I’d be skeptical that any agency law enforcement has excess money in these days “.
Cadigan said Hibbs was returned to the province within the time limit set out in the Canada Penal Code.
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