Assaults Relating to Persons in Authority (Sentencing Cases)

This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2024. (Rev. # 92980)

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Assault by persons in authority

• Assault by a Person in Authority (Sentencing Cases)

Assaulting a Peace Officer

Spitting

Case Name	Prv.	Crt.	Sentence	Summary
R v Beaudin, 2012 ONCA 615 (CanLII), per curiam	ON	CA	12 months imprisonment	long record Find summaries of case.
R v McLeod, 2009 SKPC 85 (CanLII), per Morin J	SK	PC	6 months imprisonment	spitting in eye of officer Find summaries of case.
R v Charlette, 2010 SKCA 78 (CanLII), per Jackson JA	SK	CA	60 days	spit in face; possible contagious disease Find summaries of case.
R v Wiersema, 2009 YKTC 6 (CanLII), per Cozens J	YK	SC		spit on officer while bleeding; had communicable disease Find summaries of case.
R v Ali, 2006 ABQB 805 (CanLII), per Lee J	AB	SC	4 months imprisonment	spit on officer; extensive record Find summaries of case.
R v Beuk, 2005 CarswellOnt 1674 (ONSC)(*no CanLII links)	ON	SC	Suspended Sentence	spat in face of breath-tech during impaired investigation
R v CEK, 2002 ABCA 295 (CanLII), [2002] A.J. No.1519, per Conrad JA	AB	CA	12 months imprisonment	while being arrested accused spat at officer--offender was 22 years old, previous record for assault Find summaries of case.
R v Joseph, [2001] OJ No 5726 (Ont.C.J.)(*no CanLII links)	ON	SC	4 months imprisonment	spitting on officer; related to charges of uttering threats, breach of probation; record of violence; "uncontrollable" in community
R v , Ryan(*no CanLII links)	ON		3 months imprisonment	spitting at a police officer
R v Raycraft, [1995] OJ No 3958(*no CanLII links)	ON		4 months imprisonment	spat at peace officer during crowd control

Physical Violence

Case Name	Prv.	Crt.	Sentence	Summary
R v Baines, 2013 ABPC 92 (CanLII), per Van de Veen J	AB	PC	9 months imprisonment	kicked officer in face causing bodily harm Find summaries of case.
R v Boden, 2012 BCPC 331 (CanLII), per Giardini J	BC	PC	3 months imprisonment	also sentenced to sexual assault x 2--altercation while police arresting him, officers had guns drawn, he ran at them. Find summaries of case.
R v McArthur, 2010 SKCA 90 (CanLII), per Klebuc CJ	SK	CA	24 months imprisonment	appeal from 12 month sentence; also involved assault causing and mischief against police officer Find summaries of case.
R v Bougerois, 2012 ABQB 255 (CanLII), per Park J	AB	SC	discharge	while intoxicated grabbed officer's groin, tried to kick him, no injuries sustained Find summaries of case.
R v Patton, 2011 ABCA 199 (CanLII), per curiam	AB	CA	48 months jail	Find summaries of case.
R v Gardner, 2011 CanLII 4709 (NL PC), [2011] NJ No 41, per Gorman J	NL	PC	1 months CSO	tried to bite and pull hair of officer, no injuries--also charged with violence-related offences and mischief Find summaries of case.
R v Nehass, 2010 YKTC 64 (CanLII), per Ruddy J	YK	SC	6 months imprisonment	offender was serving a sentence at the time--throwing urine, kicking and punching peace officers Find summaries of case.
R v Markozashvili, 2010 ONCA 52 (CanLII), per curiam	ON	CA	90 days imprisonment	offender convicted of dangerous driving causing bodily harm--assaulted officer while resisting arrest Find summaries of case.
R v Beauprie, 2009 ABQB 323 (CanLII), per Moen J	AB	SC	14 days imprisonment	offender assaulted officer while resisting arrest, no injuries. Offender was 24 years old and initially arrested for mischief and intoxication. No prior record. Find summaries of case.
R v Jacobish, 2008 NLTD 148 (CanLII), per Goodridge J	NL	SC	120 days imprisonment	officers were removing him from a house, hit one with a snowmobile belt and punched another on. Find summaries of case.
R v Crothers, 2007 NBQB 237 (CanLII), per Cyr J	NB	SC	10 months imprisonment	unprovoked assault on prison guard, with multiple hits Find summaries of case.
R v Chocolate, 2005 NWTSC 80 (CanLII), per Foisy J	NWT	SC	2 years less a day imprisonment	Find summaries of case.
R v Legrandeur, 2006 BCSC 227 (CanLII), per Warren J	BC	SC	Suspended Sentence	pushed officer in moment of anger Find summaries of case.
R v Grossman, 2004 BCPC 236 (CanLII), per Challenger J	BC	PC	1 year imprisonment	pepper sprayed police officer and his dog Find summaries of case.

Disarming Peace Officer and Related Offences

Case Name	Prv.	Crt.	Sentence	Summary
R v Brown, 2018 ABPC 10 (CanLII), per Van Harten J	AB	PC	2 years + probation	The offender plead guilty to assaulting a jail guard. He was party to a group assault on a corrections officer that involved punches and kicks and beating him with his own handcuffs. The whole incident lasted 36 seconds. Find summaries of case.

See Also

• Breach of Public Trust (Sentencing Cases) (for non-violent offences committed by peace officers)