Fredericton police officer testifies charged officer is an alcoholic

Const.AlliYerxa, a dog handlerwith the Fredericton Police Force, testified Thursday morning thatConst.DarrellIan Brewer was a close friend and co-worker, andan alcoholic whomshe had at one time drivento a treatment centre to get help.

Yerxatestified she was called to the accident scene to track Brewer who had left the area. She arrived on scene on 8:45 p.m.

Brewer was charged with impaired driving after the accident with his motorcycle on Aug. 23, 2015. He was off duty at the time.

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After hearing what had happened from another office, Cpl. Ross Chandler, Yerxa said, "The details I got from him made me very concerned for his well-being."

Under cross-examination from defence lawyer T.J. Burke,Yerxasaid, "Cpl. Chandlerwas very panicked, on the verge of tears ...'he could be dead, his helmet was smashed in' ... words to that effect."

Yerxasaid she was also told police suspected Brewer was impaired.

Officer in custody

Yerxa testified they searched for Brewer in the trees and ditches before learning he was in custody and wanted to speak to her.

Yerxatestified she was quite emotional and worried about Brewer and when she arrived, she got in the vehicle to "comfort him"and could smell alcohol immediately.

"He wasn't the same as he is when he isn't drinking,"Yerxasaid.

Yerxatestified Brewer asked her if he should blow the breathalyzer or not.

She said she advised he was under arrest and they'd have to talk in front of the arresting officer.

Yerxasaid Brewer asked her what he should do and she advised him to call his lawyer.

The officer said she told the accused to get help with his drinking and how difficult it was to track a co-worker thinking they were injured.

Yerxatestified ahelmet and a black motorcycle jacketwas in the back seat of the truck.

"I was told the helmet was smashed in, and that he was holding his arm, and that there was possibly head injuries," she testified.

Under cross-examination,Yerxasaid there were whispered rumours around the police station that Brewer had a drinking problem and had dumped his vehicle in a snowbank in an earlier incident.

The court heard an inspection of the motorcycle found nothing unusual;there was damage to the rear fender and the right front signal light had been broken off.

Checked for officer's whereabouts

Sgt. Mike Berry testified he went to Brewer's house to look for him after he heard about the accident, butdidn't find him.

He said he had dispatch check the cab companies and hospitals to see if anyone had been picked up. Berry then asked dispatch to "ping", or trace his cellphone, saying he was seriously concerned for Brewer's health and welfare.

"'Pinging' acellphoneis an investigative technique. It can be done if there is an emergency, without a judicial order," said Sgt. Berry.

Court heard the phone was pinged three times.

Berry testified he arrested Brewer when he arrived at his home in a truck driven by his brother.

"Mr. Brewer kept saying, 'You don't have to do this. Don't do this to me,'" said Berry, adding Brewer kept walking away from the officer.

Berry said he turned Brewer over to another officer.

"Arresting one of your own. It's not an easy thing," Berry told Burke.

The Court heard a breathalyzer technician from the RCMP was requested to come to the scene.

Brewer has been suspended with pay since he was charged on Aug. 23.

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