Man exploring options after false arrest

Crown dismisses charges against Glace Bay man

SYDNEY — A Glace Bay man is now considering his options after the Crown dismissed charges against him this week conceding he was not responsible for the crimes.

Craig Michael Doyle, 25, of Hickman Street was charged with passing a counterfeit $100 Canadian bill and with breaching a court order. The offences were alleged to have occurred at a Glace Bay convenience store on May 21.

He was arrested shortly before 9:30 p.m. on June 11.

“I went into straight panic mode when they (police) asked me to step outside and place my hands behind back my back and told me they were arresting me,” said Doyle, during an interview this week after both charges were dismissed.

Doyle said he told police he was not responsible and was told by officers “that’s what they all say.”

Doyle would spend three days on remand before being released on bail. He would then make seven provincial court appearances before the charges were finally dismissed.

It was in-store surveillance video that would prove Doyle’s innocence. Video from the store shows another male individual making a purchase with the counterfeit money. Doyle said it was a police officer who initially made the identification of him as the culprit.

Spokesperson for Cape Breton Regional Police, Desiree Magnus, said she could not speak to the specifics of the Doyle case.

However, she said, there is a process in place that when such cases arise, there is an internal review to examine what may have gone wrong.

Doyle said he has reached out to a law firm concerning a possible civil suit against the police. He may also file a formal complaint with the police under the provincial Police Act. He wants to at least recoup his lost wages for the time spent on remand and repeated court appearances.

“This has left me really angry. There was no apology or even acknowledgement that police made a mistake,” said the 25-year-old.

Doyle readily admits his prior criminal behaviour and at the time of his arrest in June, he was nearing the completion of a six-month conditional sentence on charges of forcible entry, mischief relating to property damage and breaching a court order.

Conditional sentences allow offenders to serve their time in the community under strict conditions. The sentence was imposed in January.

During the first three months, Doyle was to remain under 24/7 house arrest and the last three months, he was to abide by a curfew along with other restrictions on his movements.

“Yes, I’ve gotten into trouble in the past but since the last time I was in court (January), I got a job, got back with my family and I’m working hard at improving myself,” said Doyle, adding the false arrest made him feel none of the improvements he made were good enough.

“You have a huge feeling of helplessness when you are charged with something you know you didn’t do. It makes you feel you’ve been branded as a criminal for life,” he said.

Doyle said he is forever grateful to his mother who posted his bail on the counterfeit charge noting it was a sign that least someone believed he was innocent.

Doyle was also the subject of media reports as police issued a press release about the charge and advising merchants to be extra vigilant when accepting cash payments.

Crown prosecutor Steve Melnick said when the defence advised him of the additional video in July, he requested police investigate further.

He said upon his return from vacation, he moved immediately to have the charge dismissed based on the further review by police. Doyle appeared in court Wednesday of this week and was given a return date in September.

However, he was back before a judge on Thursday when Melnick informed the court the charges were being dismissed as Doyle was indeed not responsible for the crime.