Struggle with police earns man more jailtime

A man who was at the centre of a struggle with police at the Prince George RCMP detachment has been sentenced to a further 48 days in jail.

Ryan Patrick Beaulieu was issued the term on a count of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon. He was also sentenced to two years probation, issued a lifetime firearms prohibition and ordered to provide a DNA sample.

Beaulieu had remained in custody since the July 11, 2022 incident - a total of 240 days.

At the time, police said RCMP were called to a report of a theft in the area of 15th Avenue and Victoria Street.

Police located a suspect - Beaulieu’s name was not provided - a short distance away and arrested the man, who was found to be in possession of a firearm and had an outstanding arrest warrant.

He was taken to the detachment cells where, while being booked in, “a physical altercation occurred during which bear spray was discharged and a police officer discharged their service pistol.”

One officer received minor injuries and the suspect was also injured in the altercation and received medical attention, police said. In a letter to the Citizen, Beaulieu said he suffered a gunshot wound to his leg and complained of poor medical treatment while in custody.

The Independent Investigations Office opened a file on the day of the incident. The investigation “remains open and in progress,” an IIO spokesperson said.