A man wearing nothing but his underwear caused quite a scene in downtown Fort McMurray on May 25, prompting multiple 911 calls and a police response that ended with criminal charges—and a dislocated shoulder.
According to the Wood Buffalo RCMP, officers responded to reports of a 45-year-old man darting through traffic in his skivvies. When the first officer approached, the suspect allegedly punched the police vehicle and began yelling. Backup quickly arrived and attempted to detain him.
During the arrest, one officer suffered a dislocated shoulder. The suspect, identified as David Baron, now faces charges of mischief, assaulting a peace officer, and resisting arrest.
Baron was released following a hearing with a Justice of the Peace and is scheduled to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Fort McMurray on June 18.
While this incident might be par for the course in Fort McMurray, a nearly-naked man weaving between cars still managed to raise eyebrows—and cell phones. A video of the incident circulating online has sparked debate, with some questioning whether the force used was justified.
RCMP say they are aware of the video and have launched an internal review to assess the incident in full, including officer conduct, training, and adherence to protocol.
“Concerns of excessive force are taken seriously,” said an RCMP spokesperson. “We are committed to a thorough review.”
