On May 8, 2020 members of the Medicine Hat Police attended to a residence on McCutcheon Drive for a Mental Health related complaint involving a 24 year old male. Police Officers attempted to negotiate with the male and were required to apprehend him under the Mental Health Act for his own safety and the safety of others, as the male refused to voluntarily obtain assistance for his complex needs.

As the officers attempted to arrest the subject, he attempted to flee the scene. The officers then prevented the escape of the subject at which time the subject assaulted a police officer, by head-butting him and biting him. The members at scene were then forced to deployed O/C spray, an intermediate weapon to control the subject and were able to take the subject into custody.

The subject will be charged with Assaulting a Police Officer, and Resisting Arrest. The male, who will not be named, will be taken to the Medicine Hat Hospital for medical treatment pertaining to ongoing mental health concerns. The officer involved in the incident received minor injuries.

Several agencies within the City of Medicine Hat provide mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you or someone known to you are experiencing increasing mental health concerns please contact:

Alberta Health Services Addictions and Mental Health 403-529-3500 or the Provincial website at https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/amh/Page16759.aspx

or

The Canadian Mental Health Association at 403-504-1811

Media Contact:

Staff Sergeant Jason Graham

Patrol Team Supervisor

Medicine Hat Police Service

Ph: 403-529-8461