Nearly two months after an inmate escaped from sheriffs custody, an internal review has found the sheriffs department made some mistakes.
On the afternoon of Dec. 5, Marc Joseph Pellerin was being transported by Nova Scotia Sheriffs from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia for a court appearance. He was able to escape custody while being moved from one sheriff’s vehicle to another in Truro.
The internal review found that Pellerin was properly restrained in handcuffs and leg irons when he was placed into the sheriff’s vehicle for transport. However, the report found that he was able to free himself from his hand restraints, “due to a unique ability to contort his hand.”
READ MORE: Escaped prisoner Marc Joseph Pellerin apprehended by RCMP
“Mistakes were made, some important procedures were not followed,” said Justice Minister Diana Whalen in a news release.
The Nova Scotia Department of Justice says that the handcuffs and leg irons have been sent back to the manufacturer to determine if there was a malfunction.
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Once Pellerin’s hands were free, he was able to undo his leg irons and flee. Pellerin remained on the loose for three days before being apprehended by RCMP.
Important procedures not followed
The review also discovered that a number of important policies and procedures were not followed, including completing a risk assessment, performing proper checks and making sure radios and cameras were accessible and working properly.
Despite Pellerin jumping from the vehicle and being just one foot away from two sheriffs, and in close proximity to two others, they were unable to catch him.
The justice department says after the initial testing to become a sheriff, there is no physical requirement for them to meet. The department is currently reviewing that procedure to see if sheriffs need to have similar standards to the RCMP.
The sheriffs on duty that also did not perform a risk assessment. If they had, they would have known that Pellerin had previously escaped custody in Halifax.
“I wouldn’t say corners were cut. I believe it was late and they were very busy. They missed a step. They missed a critical step,” said Fred Hildebrand, director of Sheriff Services.
The Department of Justice also found that sheriffs did not ensure restraints were in place before opening a secure door to let the offender exit the vehicle.
“I am very disappointed, and I’ve ensured that immediate action will be taken,” Whalen said.
“This was a combination of human error and equipment failure that we take seriously,” said Fred Hildebrand, director of Sheriff Services.
Hildebrand says that Sheriff’s Services will update their policies and provide additional training for sheriffs.
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