Richmond County RCMP have taken a 36-year-old man into custody after an RCMP officer was assaulted.

At approximately 5:00 p.m. on September 9th, an on duty RCMP officer was attempting to arrest a man for breaching his court imposed conditions along Highway 4, near River Tillard, when a struggle ensued.

During the struggle, the officer and suspect rolled onto the traveled portion of Highway 4 before the suspect was able to break free and flee into a nearby wooded area on foot. Additional RCMP resources and the RCMP Police Dog Service were dispatched to the scene.

At approximately 6:15 p.m., after tracking the suspect for several kilometers, he was located but would not respond to multiple requests by police to stop and surrender. With the assistance of the police service dog, the man, who continued to be combative towards officers, was apprehended and arrested. He suffered minor injuries resulting from a dog bite and was treated in hospital and released to police custody. The RCMP officer was also taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries and released.

Andre Joseph Pottie, 36, of St Peter’s, has been charged with Breach of Probation, Resisting Arrest and Assaulting a Police Officer. He remains in police custody at this time and will be taken before a judge at 1:00 p.m. today at the Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court House in order that he may be remanded.

RCMP want to remind motorists that it is law that when they see an emergency vehicle exhibiting it’s flashing lights, stopped along the roadside, that they are to slow down to 60 km/h. Slower if the posted speed limit is below 60 km/h. During this altercation, the officer and suspect rolled across the highway during the struggle and were narrowly missed by several passing vehicles who failed to heed and respect the police vehicle’s emergency lights.

Source: Release