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29
News
Police officer pleads guilty CHERYL WIERDA Black Press
In a surprise move, the officer caught on video kicking Buddy Tavares in the head during an arrest has pleaded guilty. The change in plea came Wednesday afternoon, after a Kelowna courtroom had filled to hear the defence begin to call its case in the Const. Geoff Mantler trial. Instead, defence lawyer Neville McDougall asked for Mantler’s plea of not guilty to be “expunged” and a plea of guilty entered to the charge of assault causing bodily harm. Geoff Mantler The charge stems from a Jan. 7, 2011 arrest where Mantler, of Armstrong, kicked Tavares in the head after ordering him out of his truck while investigating a shots fired complaint. The court heard that Tavares was complying with Mantler’s commands and was on all fours when the blow was delivered to his head. (Police were later told by Tavares that he had been firing shots to scare off geese at a local golf course). For Tavares, 53, the guilty plea means he won’t hear from Mantler why the officer decided to kick him that day. “I’ve been waiting a long time to hear why he did that. I’m not going to hear that,” said Tavares. “That’s why I’ve been hanging around.” And while the guilty plea was surprising, Tavares didn’t see how the case could have ended without Mantler, now 29, being held responsible for the kick. “How do you explain that? You can’t.” “You tread water as long as you can, but then you eventually drown,” he said. “I think he was at the point he was drowning.” What frustrates Tavares more is Mantler’s potential sentence.
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The Crown has indicated to the Tavares family that they will be seeking upwards of 18 months house arrest, said Tavares’ sister Pam Weiher. The courts, said Tavares, have an opportunity to “make an example here.” He says “nothing” ever happens to police found guilty of misconduct and hopes the judge will send a message with his sentence. “Let’s see if he takes the opportunity or if he says, “Go home and watch TV again.’” Tavares also said it is “staggering” how much taxpayer money was spent on the case, which was in its eighth day of trial when the guilty plea came. Sentencing will happen at a later date, and when it happens, Tavares said he will not be there. “I’ve had it with Mantler, I’ve had it with everything. I’m leaving,” said Tavares, who heads to Mexico Thursday. His sister, Wieher, said Mantler finally did the “right thing” with his guilty plea and said she’d like to see Mantler resign from the RCMP. He’s currently suspended without pay. A civil suit is pending, she added. Mantler had no comment as he left court. n Nothing has changed for Const. Geoff Mantler from an employment perspective, according to RCMP Superintendent Bill McKinnon. “I won’t make any statement in relation to the charges before the court,” McKinnon said when news broke the suspended cop had changed his plea to guilty in his current court case. The superintendent went on to say Mantler will remain suspended without pay, as per the decision levied by the RCMP National Headquarters in Ottawa in May 2011. At the time, he had two assault charges and the superintendent told reporters the decision to suspend his pay, while unusual, was due to the severity of the allegations against him. He is awaiting a formal disciplinary hearing, a date for which has not been set. ---with files from Jennifer Smith, Kelowna Capital News
There will be no change in leadership at the Regional District of North Okanagan. Patrick Nicol, a Vernon director, was elected to a second year as board chairperson Wednesday. “I am honoured to represent the board and the citizens of the North Okanagan,” he said. “The regional district is an area of 85,000 people with good services.” Patrick Nicol Nicol believes the focus for 2013 will include restructuring Greater Vernon’s parks, recreation and culture functions, and pushing the province to change meat processing regulations. Enderby director Howie Cyr was also nominated for the chairperson’s position. Rick Fairbairn, rural Lumby director, was acclaimed to another year as vice-chairperson.
North Okanagan WEATHER FORECAST For the latest weather on-line, visit the Weather Office at
www.theweathernetwork. com
Friday
Scattered flurries High 1°, Low -4°
Saturday
Variable cloudiness High -1°, Low -5°
Sunday
Flurries High -2°, Low -5°
Monday
Mixed precipitation High 3°, Low -2°