Halifax Regional Police have charged an employee of Nova Scotia Sheriff Services for breaching a publication ban after identifying information about the teenage suspect of a school stabbing was allegedly posted online.
In a release Thursday, the police force said they became aware of social media posts in late March where the youth was believed to be identified.
“Investigators with the General Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division determined that an employee of the Nova Scotia Sheriff Services had breached the publication ban provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA),” the release said.
Police spokesperson Const. John MacLeod would not say which social media website the information was posted on.
“We’re trying to be careful as well … to make sure we don’t identify (the teen,)” he said.
Department of Justice spokesperson Peter McLaughlin said in an email that the suspect was a deputy sheriff and is no longer employed with the department.
A 30-year-old man is scheduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court at a later date to face a charge of contravening section 110 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which prohibits people from publishing the names of youths facing criminal charges.
The youth in question, a 15-year-old student, faces two counts of attempted murder, stemming from a high-profile incident on March 20 at Charles P. Allen High School in which two staff members were stabbed.
The teen was found to be fit to stand trial and had a court appearance set for Thursday morning.