Ontario MP issues statement on Halifax sexual assault allegation
Posted Apr 24, 2018 07:43:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Liberal MP from Eastern Ontario has issued a public statement about a sexual assault investigation in Halifax.
Halifax Regional Police received a report at 3:51 a.m. that a woman had been sexually assaulted at the Halifax Alehouse on Brunswick Street sometime after 2 a.m. on April 21.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Francis Drouin, who was in town for the Liberal Party convention, says the whole thing is a case of mistaken identity.
It reads:
“On Saturday morning in Halifax, I arrived at approximately 2:00 am at an establishment and joined a group of friends. We chatted amongst ourselves, and then we proceeded to the bar to buy a round of drinks. While I was standing facing the bar, with my credit card in hand, I heard what I believed to be a woman’s voice coming from another area of the establishment behind me, yelling that her buttocks had been grabbed. Her comments were clearly not directed towards me. I turned away from the bar, and shouted, 'get that man out of here' to draw attention to the alleged incident. I turned back to the bar and paid for the drinks with my credit card. After purchasing the drinks, I proceeded with my friends to another area of the establishment. Several minutes later, while standing with a group of people, I was approached by a woman with a cellphone in hand, who mistakenly attempted to connect me with the alleged incident. We told her that she was mistaken.
We left the establishment shortly thereafter. On Saturday, I proactively informed the PMO and the Whip’s office of the alleged incident.
The police have been gathering multiple witness statements and I have been cooperating fully. As I have already said, I believe that it is important for individuals to have a safe environment to come forward and be supported. I am confident that the facts of the issue will lead to a clear outcome”.
On Monday, government whip Pablo Rodriguez gave a brief comment to reporters saying “Mr. Drouin is staying in caucus, keeping all his functions.”
Halifax Regional Police say sexual assault investigations are complex and they work closely with victims to make sure they're willing to proceed with the report, including giving a statement and providing a description of the suspect if possible.
“Police must also ensure the victim’s privacy is upheld and well-being is fully considered; sexual assault investigators have been taking these measures since first speaking with the victim,” they said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police by calling 902-490-5016. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers.
