Rideau Hall Incident
Date: July 7, 2020
Classification: UNCLASS
Fully releasable (ATIP) Yes
Branch / Agency: RCMP
Issue:
Canadian Armed Forces member arrested after gaining access to Rideau Hall grounds.
Proposed Response:
- The RCMP has charged one individual in relation to the incident at Rideau Hall on July 2, 2020, where a suspect used his vehicle to breach security measures to gain unauthorized access to the grounds.
- The individual is facing 22 criminal charges in relation to the possession and transportation of firearms, as well as other Criminal Code charges.
- I cannot emphasize enough how effective the response was with RCMP members successfully engaging an armed suspect to de-escalate the situation swiftly and without injury.
- Thank you to the Ottawa Police Service and Emergency Medical Service, and the Department of National Defence (DND) for their support and cooperation in this matter and to the National Capital Commissioner workers and Commissionaires for being vigilant and reacting quickly.
Background:
On July 2nd at approximately 6:30 in the morning, a lone male breached the main pedestrian entrance of 1 Sussex Drive – at Thomas Gate – with a vehicle.
The accused was observed on the grounds of Rideau Hall with what appeared to be a firearm. RCMP members who are stationed there as part of the ongoing security detail, immediately placed the entire facility on lockdown.
RCMP members successfully used de-escalation techniques to engage the suspect and just before 8:30 the individual was arrested by members of RCMP National Division.
Immediate measures have been put in place to increase security following this event. The RCMP will be conducting an after action review as well as further analysis on the overall security posture and technology in place.
A number of units and personnel were engaged in locating and containing the scene, including National Division’s Emergency Response Team. As a precaution, the Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear, and Explosive team was also deployed to search and secure the suspect’s vehicle.
The individual arrested is facing 22 Criminal Charges in relation to the possession and transportation of firearms, as well as other criminal code charges. The charges are described as follows:
- 4 counts of careless use, storage and handling of a firearm; (Section 86(1) CC)
- 4 counts of contravention of transport regulation of a firearm; (Section 86(2) CC)
- 4 counts of possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose; (Section 88(1) CC)
- 1 count of possession of a restricted firearm, knowing its possession is unauthorized; (Section 92(1) CC)
- 1 count of possession of prohibited device, knowing its possession is unauthorized; (Section 92(2) CC)
- 1 count of possession at unauthorized place (Section 93(1) CC)
- 4 counts of unauthorized possession in motor vehicle (Section 94(1) CC)
- 2 counts of possession of prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition (Section 95(1) CC)
- 1 count of uttering threats (Section 264.1 CC)
The individual arrested is being held in custody and their next court appearance is July 17 in Ottawa.
Contacts:
Prepared by: Sean McGillis, A/Executive Director Federal Policing Strategic Direction
Approved by: Mike Duheme, Deputy Commissioner Federal Policing
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