Still seeking third suspect
Two suspects in alleged targeted assault and robbery in Kentville released from custody Hantsport Winter Carnival organizer frustrated after trees burned before event
Two suspects allegedly involved in a targeted assault and robbery in Kentville who were arrested earlier this month have been released from custody on conditions.
A third suspect remains at large. Bryce Douglas Brooks, 23, of Bishopville, and Stephen Ryan McKay, 22, of Greenwood, were arrested after police received tips from the public and through Crime Stoppers. Both suspects made initial court appearances on Jan. 11 and both consented to being remanded in custody until Jan. 15 for a bail hearing.
The court ordered a publication ban on evidence given at the bail hearing. Both Brooks and McKay were released from custody on a $10,000 non-cash recognizance with conditions, each with two sureties. Their matters have been adjourned until Feb. 13. The two have been ordered to have no contact with each other, the alleged victim or a third suspect, whom Kentville Police have been unable to locate.
Brooks and McKay are charged jointly with robbery; having their faces masked with intent to commit an indictable offence; break, enter and theft; uttering a threat to cause bodily harm or death; stealing property from an individual valued at less than $5,000; and aggravated assault.
Insp. Darryl Brown of the Kentville Police Service said in a Jan. 16 interview that police are actively looking for the third suspect who remains at large, Franklin Dale McKay, 28, also of Greenwood.
“As of today, he’s still out there,” Brown said. “We’re receiving some information but his location is not known at this moment for us to go get him.”
He said the public seems to be aware that they are actively looking for McKay. Police continue to receive tips from citizens and through Crime Stoppers.
On Jan. 4, the Kentville Police Service received a complaint from a man that he had been assaulted and bound with tape at his Academy Street residence in Kentville.
The man alleges that at approximately 5 a.m., three individuals – two wearing masks – entered the victim’s home and assaulted him. They then allegedly took property and fled the scene.
Police were notified of the incident after neighbours took the victim to hospital. The victim was treated and later released.
Police allege that this was a targeted incident, as those involved are known to one another.
In an earlier interview, Brown said police believe that Franklin Dale McKay arrived at the scene together with the other two suspects and it appears that the incident was planned.
Anyone with information on Franklin Dale McKay’s whereabouts or the Jan. 4 incident is asked to call the Kentville Police Service at 902-678-3378 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
The organizer of the Hantsport Winter Carnival fears the event might need to be put on hold if vandalism continues.
A pile of discarded Christmas trees, which were collected for the carnival’s annual bon fire, was partially destroyed after they were lit on fire. They were being stored at the Hantsport Memorial Community Centre grounds.
“I was told that somebody burned the trees last night around 11:30 p.m.,” Paul Morton, who is also a West Hants councillor, said on Jan. 14.
“Apparently, somebody called it in, they saw who did it, but don’t know who it was. A third of the trees are gone, so we’re still going to try to make it happen.”
In a Facebook post, where Morton mentions the incident, many residents in the area volunteered more trees as replacements.
However, Morton is concerned that the fire-starters would come back.
“If we build an igloo next week, what are they that?” he said.
Morton said this isn’t the first time the HMCC grounds have been vandalized in the past month. Among other incidents, some individuals recently drove through the ball field with a car.
Morton said the RCMP is well aware of the incidents and that they were at the fire scene on Jan. 13.
The RCMP were unavailable for comment as of press time.
The Hantsport Winter Carnival runs from Jan. 25-28, with the igloo build on Jan. 21. going to do to