In January the Nova Scotia RCMP referred allegations of sexual misconduct made against Cst. William McNutt, 39, to the Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT). He was posted to East Hants District RCMP at the time. In January, he was suspended from his duties.
As a result of SiRT's independent investigation, Cst. McNutt has been charged with Sexual Assault, Overcoming Resistance to Commission of Offence and Uttering Threats. He is scheduled to appear in Shubenacadie Provincial Court on September 9.
The RCMP takes all allegations of misconduct seriously; our employees are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that not only meets, but exceeds, the rightfully high expectations of Canadians. These criminal charges are disturbing and Cst. McNutt, who's been an RCMP member for just over two years, remains suspended from duty. An internal code of conduct process has also been initiated.
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Media release issued by SiRT:
The SiRT Charges RCMP Officer with Sexual Assault and Other Related Offences
The Director of the Serious Incident Response Team has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that an off-duty RCMP officer committed a criminal offence.
On January 11, 2024, the RCMP contacted the SiRT after a woman alleged she had been sexually assaulted by one of their officers in 2023. The woman and the officer are known to each other. The SiRT began an investigation into the matter that day and as a result, on July 11, 2024, Constable William McNutt was charged with 3 counts of sexual assault contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code, 1 count of overcoming resistance to commission of an offence, contrary to section 246(a) of the Criminal Code, and 1 count of uttering threats, contrary to section 264.1(1) of the Criminal Code.
Constable McNutt will appear before the Nova Scotia Provincial Court at 5 Mill Village Road, Shubenacadie, NS, on September 9, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.
The SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation.