Legal Issues In Policing

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court decision R. v. Joe , 2026 NLPC 1024 , where police arrested a man for dangerous driving. The man invoked his right to counsel but the officer did not facilitate contact with a lawyer. Instead, the officer demanded a roadside breath sample, which the man refused. Could the officer delay facilitating the man's access to a lawyer and proceed with roadside breath testing even though the man had already been arrested for another offence, advised of his right to counsel, and expressly asked to speak to a lawyer? Other case references: R. v. Commisso , 2020 ONSC 957 R.B. v. British Columbia (Superintendent of Motor Vehicles) , 2021 BCCA 262 Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the P.E.I. Supreme Court decision R. v. Gallant , 2026 PESC 31 , where police rummaged through a man's trash bin at the end of his driveway, removing cigarette butts and coffee cups. DNA was collected from these items and compared to DNA retrieved from a murder scene more than 30 years earlier, which proved a match. This match was then used to obtain further judicial authorizations. The man was subsequently charged with first degree murder and improperly interfering with human remains. The man sought a court ruling that police breached s. 8 of the Charter — the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure — and he wanted the evidence excluded. Did the police conduct amount to an unreasonable search or seizure? Was collecting and analyzing the DNA from the items left in the trash to be used for comparison purposes even a search or seizure? Or did the man abandon any legitimate expectation of privacy in the items and his DNA on it by placing it out for curb side collection? PEI Minister of Justice and Public Safety order of an independent review. Charlottetown Police Services response to Minister's order. Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Court of Quebec decision R. v. Reddick , 2026 QCCQ 4237 , where police conducted a warrantless inventory search of an impounded vehicle. An officer opened the trunk, lifted the floor covering to inspect the spare-tire compartment, and found a knotted bag. The officer untied the knotted bag and found two more knotted bags nested within one another, which he also untied to discover 500 grams of heroin. The accused attacked the officer's so called 'inventory search' in several ways, suggesting it was an investigatory search for incriminating evidence masked as an inventory. Did the judge buy what the defence was selling? Or was the search valid, conducted for legitimate inventory purposes while also respecting the scope of such a search? What you learn from this case may help you defend your conduct in similar circumstances. Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Ontario Court of Justice decision R. v. Nikocevic , 2026 ONCJ 429 , where a police officer's arrest was challenged on the basis that he did not comply with the statutorily binding public interest and court appearance factors found in s. 495(2) of the Criminal Code when making an arrest under s. 495(1). In cross examination, the officer was questioned about the limitations on his power of arrest. However, he did not expressly refer to the public interest or court appearance considerations. Did the absence of evidence from the officer specifically addressing s. 495(2) render the arrest unlawful? Or could the judge nevertheless conclude the arrest was lawful from an objective view of the evidence? Just what did the judge conclude? Arrest without warrant by peace officer 495 (1) A peace officer may arrest without warrant (a) a person who has committed an indictable offence or who, on reasonable grounds, he believes has committed or is about to commit an indictable offence; (b) a person whom he finds committing a criminal offence; or (c) a person in respect of whom he has reasonable grounds to believe that a warrant of arrest or committal, in any form set out in Part XXVIII in relation thereto, is in force within the territorial jurisdiction in which the person is found. Limitation (2) A peace officer shall not arrest a person without warrant for (a) an indictable offence mentioned in section 553, (b) an offence for which the person may be prosecuted by indictment or for which he is punishable on summary conviction, or (c) an offence punishable on summary conviction, in any case where (d) he believes on reasonable grounds that the public interest, having regard to all the circumstances including the need to (i) establish the identity of the person, (ii) secure or preserve evidence of or relating to the offence, or (iii) prevent the continuation or repetition of the offence or the commission of another offence, may be satisfied without so arresting the person, and (e) he has no reasonable grounds to believe that, if he does not so arrest the person, the person will fail to attend court in order to be dealt with according to law. Consequences of arrest without warrant (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a peace officer acting under subsection (1) is deemed to be acting lawfully and in the execution of his duty for the purposes of (a) any proceedings under this or any other Act of Parliament; and (b) any other proceedings, unless in any such proceedings it is alleged and established by the person making the allegation that the peace officer did not comply with the requirements of subsection (2). Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Ontario Court of Justice decision R. v. Angelone , 2026 ONCJ 559 , where a police officer relied on an Automated Licence Plate Reader (ALPR) hit that a vehicle was stolen as grounds for arrest. When the driver's satchel was searched, police found carfentanil. In court, the driver argued: (1) his arrest was arbitrary because the ALPR hit did not provide the necessary grounds to arrest him under s. 495(1) of the Criminal Code; (2) even if grounds existed under s. 495(1), the officer ought not to have arrested him because of s. 495(2); (3) the search of his satchel was not lawful as an incident to arrest; (4) the police failed to release him as soon as practicable; and (5) the police did not respect his right to counsel. This episode is full of information. Listen to learn what the police did right — and wrong. Arrest without warrant by peace officer 495 (1) A peace officer may arrest without warrant (a) a person who has committed an indictable offence or who, on reasonable grounds, he believes has committed or is about to commit an indictable offence; (b) a person whom he finds committing a criminal offence; or (c) a person in respect of whom he has reasonable grounds to believe that a warrant of arrest or committal, in any form set out in Part XXVIII in relation thereto, is in force within the territorial jurisdiction in which the person is found. Limitation (2) A peace officer shall not arrest a person without warrant for (a) an indictable offence mentioned in section 553, (b) an offence for which the person may be prosecuted by indictment or for which he is punishable on summary conviction, or (c) an offence punishable on summary conviction, in any case where (d) he believes on reasonable grounds that the public interest, having regard to all the circumstances including the need to (i) establish the identity of the person, (ii) secure or preserve evidence of or relating to the offence, or (iii) prevent the continuation or repetition of the offence or the commission of another offence, may be satisfied without so arresting the person, and (e) he has no reasonable grounds to believe that, if he does not so arrest the person, the person will fail to attend court in order to be dealt with according to law. Consequences of arrest without warrant (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a peace officer acting under subsection (1) is deemed to be acting lawfully and in the execution of his duty for the purposes of (a) any proceedings under this or any other Act of Parliament; and (b) any other proceedings, unless in any such proceedings it is alleged and established by the person making the allegation that the peace officer did not comply with the requirements of subsection (2). Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Ontario Court of Appeal decision R. v. Randall , 2026 ONCA 631 , where a police officer stopped a driver for tinted windows and saw an unwrapped cannabis vape pen in plain sight near the gearshift. Thinking he had enough grounds under Ontario's Cannabis Control Act for a search of the driver and the vehicle, the officer ultimately discovered controlled substances, evidence of trafficking, cash and a loaded handgun. A trial judge found the police breached the driver's Charter rights because the observation of the cannabis vape pen did not provide reasonable grounds there was improperly stored cannabis in the vehicle. All of the evidence was excluded and the driver was acquitted of the 21 criminal charges he faced. On appeal by Crown, Ontario's top court revisited the reasonable grounds issue. Did it agree with the trial judge? Or did it come to a different conclusion? s. 12 Ontario's Cannabis Control Act: Transporting cannabis 12(1) No person shall drive or have the care or control of a vehicle or boat, whether or not it is in motion, while any cannabis is contained in the vehicle or boat. Exception (2) Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to cannabis that, (a) is in its original packaging and has not been opened; or (b) is packed in baggage that is fastened closed or is not otherwise readily available to any person in the vehicle or boat. Search of vehicle or boat (3) A police officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that cannabis is being contained in a vehicle or boat in contravention of subsection (1) may at any time, without a warrant, enter and search the vehicle or boat and search any person found in it. Other references: R. v. Randall , 2025 ONCJ 337 (application to exclude evidence) R. v. McGowan-Morris , 2025 ONCA 349 (s. 10(b) RTC) Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike responds to a listener's question about whether a search would still be lawful if an officer had multiple, simultaneous reasons for searching, and the court found some — but not all of the reasons — were objectively unreasonable? Would having an invalid reason in mind when searching nullify a coexistent valid reason for a search? References: R. v. Spice , 2026 SKPC 14 R. v. Annett , 17 C.C.C. (3d) 332 (Ont. C.A.) leave to appeal refused, [1985] 1 S.C.R. v. R. v. Dreyer , 2008 BCCA 89 R. v. Nolet , 2010 SCC 24 R. v. Caprara , 2006 Canlii 18518 (ONCA) R. v. Chubak , 2009 ABCA 8 U.S. v. Hollaus , 2022 BCCA 272 R. v. Russell , 2017 BCPC 60 R. v. Dunkley , 2016 ONCA 597 R. v. Cuff , 2018 ONCA 276 R. v. Cooper , 2016 BCPC 259 R. v. Ellis , 2013 ONSC 1494 R. v. Daigle , 1994 CanLII 214 (BCCA) R. v. Caslake , [1998] 1 S.C.R. 51 Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Supreme Court of Canada decision Edmonton Police Service v. McKee , 2026 SCC 24 , where a police detective's expunged discipline record became an issue at trial. Did a provision in Alberta's Police Services Regulation removing a misconduct finding from an officer's disciplinary file also render the misconduct non-disclosable for criminal law purposes? Or did the expunged record still need to be disclosed by Crown to the accused because it may have been relevant to the detective's credibility, reliability or conduct during the investigation? See also: R. v. McNeil , 2009 SCC 3 R. v. Stinchcombe , [1991] 3 SCR 326 Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Ontario Court of Appeal decision R. v. Hayatibahar , 2026 ONCA 507 , where police arrested two men for impaired driving following a fatal crash. The catch? There was only one driver. Was the arrest of both men for an offence that could only have been committed by one of them justified? And was a search of the accused's pockets at the hospital some two hours after his arrest reasonable? Or was the arrest unlawful resulting in s. 8 (unreasonable search) and s. 9 (arbitrary detention) Charter breaches? Related lower court cases: 2022 ONSC 1281 ( Charter application) 2022 ONSC 3692 (reasons for judgment) 2022 ONSC 5154 (reasons for sentence) Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Saskatchewan Provincial Court decision R. v. Spice , 2026 SKPC 14 , where a police officer searched a truck after arresting its driver for impaired. The officer testified he searched the truck — which was being impounded — as an incident to arrest to ensure there was nothing that would be dangerous to the tow truck driver. During the search, the officer saw a box of watermelon vodka. At trial, the accused wanted this observation, along with the certificate of analysis of his breath samples, excluded under s. 24(2) of the Charter . As for the vehicle search, the Crown submitted the officer was permitted to search the vehicle as an incident to arrest to discover evidence that may be used at the accused's trial. Was the search lawful as an incident to arrest? Could the Crown save the search by providing an objectively reasonable purpose for it that was not articulated by the officer? Listen carefully as this case underscores the importance of not only knowing your authorities but also the reasons for which they may be exercised. Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses implied licence and the impact of a "NO TRESPASSING" sign. Does the posting of such a sign neuter the implied licence doctrine or does it merely state what the law already recognizes: a person entering onto another's property must have a legitimate reason for doing so? Doesn't implied licence provide members of the public, including police officers, the right to enter private property on legitimate business so long as they do not otherwise exceed the scope of the doctrine? What effect, if any, would a "NO TRESPASSING" sign — standing alone — have on this longstanding common law invitation to knock? Listen as Mike tries to make his case. Cases referenced: R. v. Evans , [1996] 1 SCR 8 R. v. Singer , 2026 SCC 6 R. v. Skerratt , 2003 BCPC 456 Larkin v. Bourque , 2026 NSSC 75 Entick v. Carrington (1765), 2 Wils. K.B. 275 Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Quebec Court of Appeal decision R. v. Paul , 2026 QCCA 552 , where a police officer saw a known drug user acting suspiciously late at night. This person was nervous, evasive and appeared uncomfortable about police presence. After speaking with the man, police surreptitiously followed him, saw him approach a running vehicle with its headlights out, and watched as he appeared to interact with its driver. After noticing police, the man fled. Police then approached the vehicle and, using a flashlight, lit up its interior to find it occupied and observed an electronic scale with white residue on the floor. Police ordered the driver out of the vehicle to arrest him for drug possession and saw a baggie of cocaine on the seat where he was sitting. The driver was subsequently charged with PPT. Was the officer justified in approaching the vehicle? Was the use of a flashlight a search? Did the officer have enough grounds for an arrest? Did pulling back the arrestee's pants and underwear waistband when frisking him at the roadside amount to a "strip search"? Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the BC Court of Appeal decision R. v. Dinh , 2026 BCCA 190 , where police, acting on an anonymous Crime Stoppers' tip, followed a woman onto a ferry and later arrested her after she met with a man at a parking lot and exchanged bags. Police searched her car and found a kilogram of fentanyl hidden in the spare tire compartment of her trunk. The woman claimed her arrest was unlawful for lack of reasonable grounds and she wanted the evidence against her excluded. Was the officer able to weave his grounds for arrest to the requisite threshold? Or did the police breach the woman's s. 9 Charter right not to be arbitrarily detained? Listen and learn how the court decided the matter. Related cases: R. v. Dinh , 2023 BCSC 2446 R. v. Dinh , 2023 BCSC 244 7 R. v. Dinh , 2023 BCSC 2448 R. v. Dinh , 2024 BCSC 109 (sentencing) Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal decision R. v. Singer , 2026 SKCA 52 , an update to Episode 138 ( R. v. Singer , 2026 SCC 8). In this case, Saskatchewan’s top court had to determine the outstanding ground of appeal it refused to address: whether the accused’s right to a fair trial was prejudiced because the arresting officer — prior to testifying — allegedly overheard defence counsel’s submissions taking issue with the grounds to make a breath demand and whether it was made forthwith. The Court of Appeal initially found it unnecessary to deal with this issue because it excluded crucial evidence, having concluded the police infringed the accused’s right to be free from unreasonable search by entering his driveway, opening the door of his truck and rousing him. But when the Supreme Court overturned Saskatchewan's opinion on the s. 8 breach, it sent the matter back for a resolution on the fair trial issue. Mike has the break down for you! Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Manitoba Court of Appeal decision R. v. Francois , 2025 MBCA 93 where police, on routine patrol in a high crime area, saw a man in a back alley operating a grinder while leaning over a BMX bike. After briefly questioning the man about the bike, an officer — an avid biker himself — found things just didn't add up, so he arrested the man thinking the bike was stolen or being stolen. A search of the man and his back-pack resulted in the discovery of a sawed-off .22 calibre rifle, ammunition and an angle grinder. Was the man detained prior to his arrest such that he was entitled to be advised of his s. 10(b) Charter right to counsel? Did police observations and officer experience with bikes render the man's arrest lawful? Listen carefully as to how the officer articulated his grounds as this street encounter played out. How the Court of Appeal saw the matter may assist you with a similar encounter. Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Supreme Court of Canada decision R. v. Singer , 2026 SCC 8 where police, responding to a reported impaired driver, saw a truck matching the suspect vehicle description parked in a private driveway with its engine running and lights on. Officers walked up the driveway to the truck and saw a man sleeping or passed out in the driver's seat. The man was unresponsive to knocks at the window, so police opened the truck's door, woke the man up and observed signs of impairment. An ASD failure resulted in a ride to the police detachment, where the man refused a breath test. A trial judge found the police did nothing wrong, their actions were Charter compliant, and convicted the man of refusal. A Court of Appeal ruled otherwise and acquitted the man. Find out how the Supreme Court saw it when it weighed in. Was the conduct of the police in entering the driveway and approaching the truck consistent with the common law's implied licence doctrine? Was opening the truck's door lawful? This is an important case to understand because you use this doctrine on a regular basis, whether you realize it or not. Related cases: R. v. Singer, 2023 SKCA 123 Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the Supreme Court's 2025 Year in Review . How do last year's numbers stack up against previous years? And how often does the court disagree on the outcome of a case? Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the BC Supreme Court decision R. v. Watroba , 2025 BCSC 815 where police saw a man, who they recognized as someone known to be involved in drug trafficking, standing outside a shopping mall with an easily accessible machete strapped across his back. This led to an investigative detention, a pat-down, the search of a satchel, the discovery of fentanyl and ultimately an arrest. The man was charged with possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace and two counts of PPT. His lawyer, as one might expect, challenged every aspect of the police interaction on Charter grounds. Did the police have enough cause to detain? Was the pat-down legitimate? Was looking in the satchel justified on the basis of officer safety? And was the arrest lawful? Listen to learn what the judge ruled. It may just help you in a future case like it. Related cases: R. v. Watroba, 2025 BCSC 2192 R. v. Watroba, 2025 BCSC 2209 Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike discusses the power to arrest, without warrant, an offender in breach of their conditional release — unescorted temporary absence, parole or statutory release — and how the authority under s. 137.1 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) came to be. CCRA definitions (s. 99(1)): day parole means the authority granted to an offender by the Board or a provincial parole board to be at large during the offender’s sentence in order to prepare the offender for full parole or statutory release, the conditions of which require the offender to return to a penitentiary, community-based residential facility, provincial correctional facility or other location each night or at another specified interval. full parole means the authority granted to an offender by the Board or a provincial parole board to be at large during the offender’s sentence. statutory release means release from imprisonment subject to supervision before the expiration of an offender’s sentence, to which an offender is entitled under section 127. unescorted temporary absence means an unescorted temporary absence from penitentiary authorized under section 116. CCRA Arrest Authorities: Arrest without warrant 137(2) A peace officer who believes on reasonable grounds that a warrant is in force under this Part or under the authority of a provincial parole board for the apprehension of a person may arrest the person without warrant and remand the person in custody. Arrest without warrant — breach of conditions 137.1 A peace officer may arrest without warrant an offender who has committed a breach of a condition of their parole, statutory release or unescorted temporary absence, or whom the peace officer finds committing such a breach, unless the peace officer (a) believes on reasonable grounds that the public interest may be satisfied without arresting the person, having regard to all the circumstances including the need to (i) establish the identity of the person, or (ii) prevent the continuation or repetition of the breach; and (b) does not believe on reasonable grounds that the person will fail to report to their parole supervisor in order to be dealt with according to law if the peace officer does not arrest the person. Additional References: Arrest Without Warrant: Handbook for Front-line Peace Officers 2013 R. v. Loewen , 2018 SKCA 69 (lower court decision 2015 SKPC 12 ) Video — Parole: Contributing to Public Safety 2023 Corrections and Conditional Release Statistical Overview (July 2025) Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com

Provide your feedback here. Anonymously send me a text message. In this episode, Mike offers a Christmas message for all law enforcement officers. Thanks for listening! Feedback welcome at legalissuesinpolicing@gmail.com