BURSTA Fernie man has been criminally charged after an altercation with Elk Valley RCMP.
Scott Bell was charged on Jan. 16 for mischief, obstruction, and uttering threats to a police officer; and assaulting a police officer, stemming from a reported incident the day before.
Bell got into an altercation with police on Jan. 15, at a home in the 1100 block of 1 Ave. in Fernie. Elk Valley RCMP had been called to assist a resident in removing their belongings from Bell’s house, after they had a disagreement with him and were concerned for their well-being.
Sgt. Svend Nielsen said Bell became increasingly agitated, yelled and swore at officers as the individual moved their belongings out of the house. Bell also began throwing small items at them, according to Nielsen.
While the officers were initially able to calm Bell down, the situation escalated again after the resident had left with their belongings.
Nielsen said Bell exposed himself to the officers as they were approaching their vehicles to leave. He pulled his pants off and danced around the front porch half-naked, and bent over to flash them, according to RCMP.
As the officers entered their vehicles, he began throwing items at them, including pieces of drywall that were on the porch.
While the officers were sitting in their vehicles, Nielsen stated that Bell rushed over to them and began striking the side window of one patrol car. He moved on to the other police car and broke the front windshield with his fist wrapped in his own pants.
Officers arrested the man for mischief for breaking the windshield of the car.
Nielsen said Bell threatened one of the officers during the arrest by saying, “I am going to strangle you and watch you die.”
A struggle reportedly ensued as Bell continued to try to kick and strike them, stated police.
Other officers on duty were called in for backup, and Bell was placed in handcuffs. He was loaded into a patrol car, but Nielsen said he began kicking the rear door hard enough to bend the door frame.
Bell was taken to a cell and held there with the assistance of four officers. No officers were harmed during the incident, but Bell did sustain injuries which were subsequently treated.
The investigation for this case, labelled as file 2026-163, is ongoing.