No jail time for altercation with police

James David Martin ordered to write apology letter to officer

A P.E.I. man who got into a struggle with an officer and picked up a child while the police were responding to a domestic dispute complaint was recently given a suspended sentence.

James David Martin, 24, appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court in Charlottetown where he pleaded guilty to one count of assault.

Crown attorney Lisa Goulden told the court that on Aug. 25 at around 11:45 p.m. the police were called to a domestic dispute complaint where a neighbour said they heard yelling, screaming and kids crying.

The court heard an officer saw Martin outside where the accused kept walking away and tried to close the door on the police. Goulden said that at one point Martin picked up a child and, from the officer’s perspective, put the child in harm’s way.

During the incident, Martin got into a struggle with the officer and locked the officer out of the building.

Goulden said the officer was worried about the children’s safety and forced their way back inside.

The court heard Martin’s wife was also arrested after an altercation with the police during the incident.

Goulden said the incident could have escalated to a tragic result.

Defence lawyer Alex Dalton told the court Martin suffers from anxiety and possible anger management issues.

Martin has already apologized to the officer and planned to write a letter, Dalton said.

She also told the court Martin misunderstood the law and told the officer they needed a warrant.

Before hearing his sentence, Martin addressed the court and said he was “truly sorry” for his actions.

With the suspended sentence, Martin will be on probation for 15 months and must write an apology letter to the police officer.