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Man pleads guilty to uttering threats to Elk Point RCMP

A man pleaded guilty to uttering threats towards two Elk Point RCMP members, and was sentenced to 75 days in jail, plus one year probation with restrictions, on May 10 in a St. Paul court room.

A man pleaded guilty to uttering threats towards two Elk Point RCMP members, and was sentenced to 75 days in jail, plus one year probation with restrictions, on May 10 in a St. Paul court room.

Jonathan Durocher threatened to blow up Elk Point RCMP vehicles, as well as threatened the life of one attending Constable, according to the agreed upon facts. He then took off his shirt and began flexing, and continued with a throat slitting gesture at one of the officers.

Durocher was arrested March 25 and sent to jail, where he remained until the guilty plea. Durocher was at a house party in Fishing Lake when RCMP were initially called.

"Initially the (officers) didn't have any difficulty with him, any problems with him, but when they brought him back to the detachment and were going to confine him in the cell, he became agitated and threatening towards the officers," Durocher's attorney Leighton Grey told the Journal.

With remand time accrediting a day and a half, he had completed the 75 days sentence handed out despite only remaining in detention for 50 days, and was released.

The crown sought a 90-day sentence, along with 12 months probation and conditions including keeping the peace and good behaviour. Additionally, he is prohibited to have possession and consumption of alcohol and non-prescribed drugs.

Provincial Judge Ivan Ladouceur sided with the defence, and explained his decision to both sides of the room.

"I don't see what 15 days are going to do. The police have the right not to be harassed or threatened, just like you do. They have enough of a job to do without worrying about that," said the judge, speaking to Durocher, who appeared via CCTV.

The crown said they were concerned for Durocher's mental health, to which Grey agreed with.

"The crown's concerns over mental health issues are well founded. (Durocher) suffers from serious mental health problems (and is prescribed) anti-psychotic meds," Grey told the courtroom. "He was having a psychotic episode," Grey concluded.

Grey says Durocher doesn't remember any of the incident, but accepts that it happened based on the Elk Point officers notes of the evening. Durocher was intoxicated and off his prescribed medication at the time, heard the court.

Grey told the Journal Durocher was facing eight charges, before the crown dropped it down to the two he pled guilty to. Durocher had previously been convicted of other charges, unrelated to this incident.

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