Officer Pleads Guilty to Assault in LRT Incident

An Edmonton police officer has admitted to assaulting a man found sleeping in a downtown LRT station. Sgt. Michael Bates, an 18-year member of the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), pleaded guilty Monday in Edmonton Court of Justice. The court granted him a conditional discharge, meaning no criminal conviction will remain on his record.

Details of the January 2024 Encounter

According to an agreed statement of facts, Bates and three EPS constables encountered Tristan McAdam asleep inside Corona Station on the evening of January 20, 2024. The officers woke McAdam, who appeared intoxicated, and instructed him to leave. Court documents noted an exchange of profanities between Bates and McAdam before the man began gathering his belongings. As McAdam walked away, Bates tackled him and struck him twice in the head.

Internal Complaint Led to Charges

Following the incident, McAdam was briefly detained and taken to the Herb Jamieson Centre, though he suffered no reported injuries. The assault charge arose not from a public complaint but from concerns raised by the officers on duty with Bates. Crown prosecutor Tom Buglas confirmed McAdam himself played no role in the proceedings, as he could not be located.

Rare Case Outside Watchdog Oversight

Bates was charged in November 2024 after an internal EPS investigation. This path to charges is unusual, as most cases involving police misconduct in Alberta are handled through the provincial watchdog, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT). At the time of his charge, Bates was reassigned from front-line patrol duties to a non-supervisory position. EPS confirmed he currently serves in an investigative role.

Court Accepts Conditional Discharge

Justice Peter Ayotte accepted a joint submission from Crown and defence lawyers for a conditional discharge. Bates must abide by a six-month no-contact order with the victim and continue psychological counselling. Defence counsel Mike Danyluik argued the incident was a “momentary, uncharacteristic response,” citing personal and medical stressors. Bates, recognized in 2019 with an EPS medal of valour for aiding in a plane crash rescue, has no prior disciplinary record.

Judge Highlights Public Trust

In delivering the sentence, Justice Ayotte underscored the weight of public confidence in police officers. “The public places great trust in a policeman,” he remarked. Bates apologized to his fellow officers but chose not to address the court directly.

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Alberta Man Faces Jail for Unprovoked Vancouver Attacks

An Alberta man who randomly assaulted strangers on Vancouver streets could face 18 months behind bars, as Crown prosecutors made their sentencing pitch in court on Monday.

Zachary Shettell, who pleaded guilty to a string of unprovoked assaults last November, appeared in a Vancouver courtroom where the Crown argued for consecutive sentences totaling a year and a half, plus two months of probation. His lawyer, however, is seeking a lighter penalty, citing time already served and Shettell’s intent to reform.

Assaults Spanned Five Days in Downtown Vancouver

The attacks took place over a five-day period in late November 2023 at multiple downtown locations.

According to Crown prosecutor Christine Lusk, the assaults were unrelated and occurred on separate days. The first incident happened on November 24 outside the Fairmont Hotel, where Shettell punched a 35-year-old man without warning. On November 25, he assaulted a 29-year-old on West Pender Street. Three days later, he struck a 28-year-old man outside The Bay on West Georgia Street, knocking him to the ground.

“These weren’t spontaneous reactions. They were distinct and deliberate acts of violence against unsuspecting individuals,” Lusk told the court.

Additional Offences and Criminal Record Revealed

Shettell also admitted to two additional incidents: an assault on a bank teller and the theft of a high-end vest.

He pleaded guilty to pouring coffee on a TD Canada Trust bank teller during a dispute, damaging both the teller and their computer. He also confessed to stealing an $850 Canada Goose vest from Holt Renfrew. For these offences, the Crown requested 60- and 30-day sentences, to be served concurrently with the assault penalties.

Court documents revealed Shettell has a criminal record spanning 27 convictions, with 20 for breaching court orders and three for previous assaults.

Defence Cites Mental State and Guilty Plea

Defence lawyer Jason Hemmerling argued for leniency, stating his client was in a mentally fragile state.

Hemmerling told the court Shettell had been recently robbed, was abusing drugs, and felt isolated during his time in Vancouver. He stressed that Shettell’s early guilty plea and willingness to rebuild his life in Alberta—through construction work and education—should weigh in his favour.

“There really is no explanation for these offences,” Lusk countered. “We’re fortunate the injuries weren’t greater.”

Final Decision Pending from the Court

The judge has reserved her decision, and a sentencing outcome will be delivered at a later date.

If the Crown’s recommendation is accepted, Shettell would serve just under eight additional months in jail, accounting for the ten months he’s already spent in custody.

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