Man shot by police speaks to court by phone from hospital
Cambridge man charged with attempting to disarm officer
KITCHENER — A Cambridge man who was shot by police last week remains in hospital with a bullet wound to his right front torso with a 30-centimetre incision, says his lawyer.
“He is flat on his back with a pain reliever drip and two police guards,” said lawyer Edward Burlew.
“His wound is quite severe,” he said.
Maurice Rivard, 40, spoke to a justice of the peace by phone Monday and is set to be before the court again on Thursday. He remains in St. Mary’s General Hospital.
The Crown prosecutor is requesting that Rivard not be set free. Once he is released from hospital, he would be placed in custody at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton.
Burlew said he wants his client released on “strict and reasonable” conditions.
Rivard is charged with attempting to disarm a police officer. On Thursday, Burlew expects to set a date for a bail hearing.
The shooting occurred Thursday morning in the area of Ottawa Street South and Courtland Avenue East. Police received a 911 call from a resident who saw an erratic driver in the area of Belmont Avenue and Highland Road, just after midnight.
Police stopped a driver on Lilac Street at Ottawa Street at about 12:20 a.m.
An interaction between the driver and the officer led to a stun gun being used and a gun being fired. It is unknown which weapon was used first.
Rivard was taken to St. Mary’s General Hospital where he remained in the intensive care unit for at least two days. He is now in a private room in stable condition.
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is probing the incident. The SIU has said it is still trying to determine who used the stun gun and the timeline of events that morning.
The officer, who has worked for the service for two years, was not hurt.
A court-ordered publication ban does not allow for the reporting of information that was said in court in relation to the alleged crime.
In an interview outside the court, Burlew said Rivard was shot by an officer at close range. He said he is concerned for his client’s rehabilitation and would like to see him released to the care of family in the region. He also has family in London, Ont.
Burlew said Rivard had surgery on his torso and his back.
The car Rivard was driving — a Pontiac — belonged to a family member, Burlew said.
The SIU is a civilian agency that investigates incidents involving police and civilians where there has been a death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.
The SIU is urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529.
The SIU is also asking anyone who may have video evidence related to the incident to upload it at www.siu.on.ca.