Photo by Whitehorse Star
Onlookers helped officer subdue suspect
A Whitehorse RCMP police officer was assaulted last Thursday during the course of his duties, police said Monday afternoon.
A Whitehorse RCMP police officer was assaulted last Thursday during the course of his duties, police said Monday afternoon.
The police officer was in the midst of interviewing a witness when the suspect being investigated came back to the scene and allegedly assaulted the police officer.
“A struggle ensued,” police said.
“The suspect was able to disable the officer’s portable radio and also attempted to disarm him.
“People who witnessed the struggle came to the assistance of the police officer by helping to restrain the suspect and calling 911.
“Police and the people who assisted were able to de-escalate the situation and take control of the situation peacefully.”
The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.
“The suspect continued to threaten police and guards at the Arrest Processing Unit,” police said.
“The police officer sustained minor injuries and was treated at the hospital. The people who assisted the police officer and the suspect were not injured.”
David Malcolm, age 40, of Whitehorse, has been charged with assaulting a police officer, attempting to disarm a police officer, uttering threats and resisting arrest.
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Comments (12)
Up 3 Down 5
drum on Feb 28, 2021 at 11:55 am
Good citizens will support the police. They make it possible for us to walk down Main Street and not get mugged. In the middle of the night it is not guaranteed any more. Too many criminals coming from other places to live here.
Up 14 Down 8
SH on Feb 25, 2021 at 11:04 am
@Dave,
I expect the officer could have subdued the suspect without help. Just because somebody assisted doesn't mean assistance was required. Things happen quick. If I saw a guy wrestling a cop I would probably jump in, even if the cop had the upper hand.
Up 21 Down 5
loretta Westman on Feb 25, 2021 at 10:59 am
Congratulations to those people who responded to help someone in need! This is one of the many reasons I love the Yukon since the day I came 40 years ago!
Also, you have never been caught unexpectedly, Dave was it. Getting into a serious situation happens in the blink of an eye no matter who you are or your training.
Up 20 Down 4
Grant Westman on Feb 25, 2021 at 10:55 am
Nice to see people come to the aid of someone in need.
Up 10 Down 19
Great Society You Got There! on Feb 25, 2021 at 8:39 am
Mentally ill? Incredibly strong and therefore dangerous? WTF? That is a dangerous stereotype to perpetuate.
Why are we assuming anything? Why not assume that Malcolm has a neurocognitive disorder which interferes with his ability to control his impulses? We could also assume that Malcolm has a substance use problem that worsens his response inhibition combined with decades of disadvantaged environmental experiencing such as poverty, insecurity of the person, trauma, violence, sexual violence etc.
We could also assume that when he has been incarcerated subsequent to prior involvements with the criminal Justice system that Correctional Officers set him up for a violent assault from another inmate through an arranged encounter.
We could also assume that one or two of these individuals still work for YG in Justice... Moving on.
We could assume that Malcolm has had decades of involvement with both the Department of Justice and Health & Social Services and that as a consequence of their failures to adequately protect and support Malcolm as a child, adolescent, and then as an adult that they “should” be held responsible or at the very least complicit for Malcolm’s life circumstances if not behaviours.
We could also assume that both the DOJ and H&SS who are always in the papers for some failure of this or that kind - DID NOT - Do their jobs in a manner that allows for the confidence, and the trust that the public should be able to have in the Administration of Social Services and the Administration of Justice.
We could also assume that many of the current staff in these positions should not be anywhere near people within the context of their legislative authorities because they know very little about human behaviour, how to work with it, and how to facilitate change because they are judgmental and can only act in accordance with their own feelings about things.
We can assume all sorts of things and we will continue to do this because we have an evolutionary to do so. This prevents us from truly understanding the world as it is and makes it difficult to ask those questions TVs the need to be asked - Why being one of them.
Up 45 Down 5
Police-hater on Feb 24, 2021 at 11:47 am
@Dave - without being there, one can assume that the officer was attacked from behind based on the description of the interview from a witness. This has nothing to do with their abilities to handle themselves. Get over your police-hate.
Up 47 Down 6
DMZ on Feb 24, 2021 at 11:11 am
@Dave, someone who is mentally ill can be incredibly strong. I know nothing of this situation, so I don't know if that's what happened, but your assumption that the officer wasn't up to it is really incorrect.
Up 6 Down 9
Good Samaritans on Feb 24, 2021 at 6:35 am
WTG did you get in a couple of extra shots for the gipper?
Up 2 Down 14
Patti Eyre on Feb 23, 2021 at 6:29 pm
This is just like in Night Stalker, no escape from the mob!
Up 6 Down 67
Dave on Feb 23, 2021 at 4:36 pm
So the RCMP officer had either not kept up on his basic hand to hand techniques or he simply wasn’t fit enough to be capable of dealing with a one on one situation. This episode doesn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence in the physical abilities of RCMP officers but I can’t say I’m overly surprised anymore, it’s a good thing everyone is so nice here and cops don’t have to be physically capable of dealing with the bad guys or anything. Maybe they should get out of Starbucks and hit the gym more often.
Up 38 Down 9
My Opinion on Feb 23, 2021 at 4:31 pm
Cops should not be alone in their cruiser. People have no respect any more and the cop needs back up. And good back up too, like the old days when they had to be over 6' tall and fiscally fit. Not someone who is a hundred pounds and will have to escalate to lethal force as they have no other option. I feel for you guys it is not an easy job, we need to support you.
Up 87 Down 4
Wilf Carter on Feb 23, 2021 at 1:14 pm
Great work Yukoners helping our police.