RCMP release:

Cumberland County District RCMP has charged a man for personating a police officer after receiving a report of a suspicious person in Pugwash.

On December 9 at approximately 8:40 a.m., officers attended a report that a man, claiming to be a police officer, had offered a ride to a youth. Officers learned that the youth, who was walking on Church St., was approached by a man in a blue car. The driver and only occupant of the car said he was a police officer, offered the youth a ride, and indicated they could trust him. When the youth refused the ride repeatedly, the man, who had not exited the vehicle during this interaction, drove away.

Later in the day, officers received further information that assisted in identifying and locating the vehicle.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., general duty officers located and safely arrested a man at a residence in Pugwash.

Brian Forsythe, 73, of Pugwash, has been charged with Personating Peace Officer and Attempted Abduction of Person Under Age of 16. He was released on conditions pending a scheduled first court appearance on February 9, 2026, at Amherst Provincial Court.

The vehicle Forsythe was driving did not have any police-related markings or decals. Through the investigation to date, there is no indication that he was wearing any part of a uniform or other police-related clothing and he did not present a police or peace officer badge.

“While we do not believe that there is an increased safety risk in the community associated to this investigation, attempts like this to coerce or influence a youth are serious and concerning,” says Cpl. Troy Gill of the Cumberland County District RCMP. “Anyone with concerns about the identity of a police officer they’re interacting with can ask the officer for identification, or contact their local detachment’s non-emergency line to determine if there is a police officer at their location. Call 911 in an emergency.”

More information available here on police officer identification.