CBC News
A well-known Souris businessman has accused off-duty P.E.I. correctional officers of beating him in an unprovoked attack at a Charlottetown bar last week.
Alan MacPhee has been told he may have suffered permanent damage to his right eye from the beating. (CBC)
In a prepared statement read Thursday at his lawyer’s Charlottetown office, Alan MacPhee said he has undergone two surgeries and suffered permanent damage after being attacked last Friday at St. James’ Gate.
MacPhee had been at the Confederation Centre for a Christmas show before heading to the bar with friends. He said he was on the dance floor just after midnight dancing with two female friends when four or five assailants jumped him from behind.
“Not one word was exchanged between myself and the assailants prior to the assault,” MacPhee said. “According to witnesses, I was held down on the floor and beaten continuously for four to five minutes.”
After speaking with staff at the bar and conducting his own investigation, MacPhee said he’s convinced the assailants are off-duty provincial correctional officers and his case may require a public inquiry.
Provincial Correctional Centre manager Craig McDowall told CBC News he is aware that correctional officers are being investigated for the assault.
Charlottetown police Deputy Chief Richard Collins cautioned that bar assaults can be difficult to investigate, due to dim lighting and potential witnesses having various of degrees of alcohol intake.
“It’s darkly lit.… Some could be intoxicated, so it gets down to the credibility of witnesses and the quality of witnesses,” Collins said.
He added some bar patrons are reluctant to come forward to help police in their investigations.
MacPhee said he has already observed that after talking to a witness who told him he was hesitant to make a statement because he thought the attack was a biker beating.
“Here I’ve been in the community working in business for 25 years and people think that I’m on a dance floor being beaten up by bikers?” MacPhee said incredulously.
MacPhee said he worries the close relationship between police and correctional officers could affect the investigation, and he doesn’t want to see any special treatment.
But Collins insisted the investigation will be full and fair.
Story comments (25)
islander gone away Typical of city police. I find it hard to swallow that the women he was dancing with can’t help out – unless he was set up.
quiteinformed To those who seem to think this man is getting special treatment… Have you thought for a minute that he may have gone to the news when his case seemed to be going nowhere. It’s hard to see people missing such an obvious reason.
This was wrong, regardless of who did it.
Those who did it, whether corrections or not, need to be punished.
This bar needs proper security that knows what they are doing.
quiteinformed wrote:Well CBC, you seem to be the only ones with the whole story. The Guardian conveniently left out the part where it was corrections officers and then flicked off their comment section.
This is all looking like it will be swept under the rug.
amom– wrote:It is really sad that things like this happen at all BUT if was Joe Average guy who had gotten attacked by 3 or 4 guys who work at say a fast food restaurant, none of us would have heard a thing about it at all!
I hope Mr. McPhee will be OK and that his sight is not permanently damaged but it looks to me like he is the one getting special treatment. Back off and let the Police do their job. Don’t bother getting the accused employer involved! The face that the accused might be correctional officers has no bearing on the incident at all.
It seems to me that McPhee was in an awful hurry to get into the public eye and tell HIS side of the storey first. Even with my children..I know the first one to come running with his/her side of the storey usually is the one who started the fight!
stu-grad wrote: Why Collins is stating that the bar was poorly light and bar fights are difficult to investigate is because they are. People are not satisfied when the police are exclusive with investigations and they are not satisfied when they are honest. They police cannot change the fact that bars are dark, loud and crowded, or would you expect that they should be working on the sound and lighting as well to improve the ‘Mickey mouse’ organization? I am not a police officer myself, but I’m a realist and I appreciate when the police department employs a realistic approach, despite the outcome. I would prefer to be told something
missinformed30 wrote:The whole thing is a bit “fishy”.
Number one… Why would a fight at a bar be allowed to go on for appr 5 mins?
Number Two… The women should be questioned again, that were dancing with Mr. MacPhee.
Number Three…Why is Richard Collins saying ALREADY that this will be difficult to investigate, so is every investigation…if you put your mind to it, you will find some answers.
I hate to say it but I do not have faith in the Charlottetown City Police Department..it’s a Mickey mouse operation, for what I see and hear! There have been numerous stories of people being picked up by the Ch’town Police and taken to Sleepy Hallow, on their way to jail, they stop off side roads and what not and the “police” beat the crap out of people..come on, does that sound fair to you.
If I was Mr. MacPhee I would demand the RCMP handle my investigation. at least he can feel safe that things will be investigated fairly..and things will not be “swept under the rug” as they might be with the City Police.
Just my opinion!
James Max wrote: After reading some of the way-out-there comments here, I wonder why some of these smart PI’s haven’t asked why this gentleman was out in Charlottetown at such a late hour? Doesn’t this sound suspicious? Doesn’t it make you wonder? Exactly why was he not at home? And, exactly who was he dancing with? 2 women, you say? Hmmmm. Jealous brother, perhaps? Or, worse…
Maybe we have not been quick enough to think of all the ways to blame the victim?
– “Can’t be true because it couldn’t happen here.”
– “I know the accused, and as his mother, I know he couldn’t have done it.”
– “MacPhee must be guilty of something bad because things like this never happen without a valid reason.”
Yah, right. I bet more idiotisms are coming.
If anyone found guilty is employed to protect the poor residents at the Sleepy Hollow Hilton, I think they should lose their jobs, because we have to remember our jail is full of innocents that must be protected.
Prof. Griff wrote: I was at the Gate that night, and while I didn’t see the initial incident, someone who did told me it looked totally unprovoked, and after the victim dropped 3 or 4 other guys started beating on him. That said, the bouncers were there in about 30 seconds (the bar was very crowded at the time) and it took them maybe another 30 sec. to pull the guys off him. I’m sure that minute could seem like five, but there’s no way it was that long. I can’t suggest what brought this on, but there was no argument or the usual B.S. shoving match you usually see before a real bar fight. I have also heard the rumor that all the people involved were corrections officers. Aren’t they supposed to be trained to diffuse these situations, not create them?
Martin A. Good wrote: There will be NO justice for Mr. MacPhee,
JoJoCo wrote: This goes on all the time around the Charlottetown bar scene. However, unless Mr. MacPhee himself had four other friends with him and initiated the fight, there is no excuse for what happened. It would then have been a fair fight. But for 4-5 of them to attack him, no matter what he said or did, is not justified!
As far as saying that the bar was too dark or whatever..that is laughable! I wonder if it were the other way around and Mr. MacPhee had beat up a correctional officer- how much the lighting in the place would affect his punishment?
Mick Stagger wrote:Special treatment..umm.does everybody that gets a punch in the mouth in a bar in Chtn..go before the cameras ?..NO..Does he want special treatment ..Yes..he makes it look like the Director of Corrections sent his goons to town that night….They were not working…if they assaulted someone ,that was a personal decision /poor life choice ,on their part..don’t paint the employees of the Correctional center with the same brush…98% of them are just working Joe’s like the rest of us…I smell a lawsuit..umm easy money for both guys..on the camera…and the D/Chief continues to embarrass the Police dept..don’t make excuses or do the investigation in the public..just say it is under investigation…and be professional about it ..assign a senior member to this file…not a street cop..with no experience…
No one deserves to be assaulted or victimized..no matter where you are at…don’t allege “favoritism ” because it is not going your way at the moment ..have patience…
Ohh and CdnFISH what end of your crack pipe are you looking at..you sound like a paranoid conspiracy theorist…a failed applicant for public service …do we live in the same country??
This gentleman was assaulted it is obvious, let the police do their job…if it is suspect and poorly investigated ..they will be held accountable…..
and no doubt there will be a civil action against St James gate….but that will be their problem….
VACMAN wrote: I have one question…Where was the in-house bar security? I think the bar owner should accept some of the responsibility here. There is no possible way that a patron of the facility should be beaten for this length of time before the bar’s hired guns step in….
micpei wrote: well well here we go again…I can see the Charlottetown police investigating…there all close friends…they will walk..another thing…if there is a other side..5 correctional officers beating one guy..that sounds fair..NOT!..sick..this town is so tribal..we need the RCMP running the city..like Moncton
voice56 wrote: what goes around…
WhyinNS wrote: I completely agree that there had to have been some “spark to ignite” the flame regarding Mr. MacPhee’s actions prior to the beating.
However….that being said. I have seen correctional officers from the standpoint of probation officers who have dealt with them and from the picket line during one of their strikes. I can tell you that many of them are worse than the criminals they deal with in Jail. Throwing dead animals over fences, swearing at/threatening people in cars, relations to criminal organizations, intimating probation officers with jail-style sexist remarks.
So YES, I can see them committing this kind of act. Some of them are just PURE scum.
ABMTNS wrote: Why was at his lawyers??? He is supposed to be the victim and the crown will represent his and the public interest in any criminal proceeding… my feeling is there may be a motive he’s not sharing with the media. I won’t guess as to what it might be.
RSmith wrote: I think a major concern with these accusations is how a crowded bar permitted a man to get beaten for 4 or 5 minutes by several individuals? How is it possible for a decent person to stand by and watch this happen and not intervene? Assuming this event happened as it has been reported in this article, every single person who was aware of what was going on should be utterly ashamed of themselves. The people who permitted this to happen are equally as bad as those who allegedly did it. Despicable.
cdnfish wrote: The #1 threat to your safety at any given time is not a criminal or a hoodlum; it is a cop or a member of the state security force. They self-select themselves for these jobs because they are macho-power hungry abusive psychopaths; they are poorly screened, poorly trained, poorly supervised and poorly led. When they commit violent crimes their behavior is minimized and they are protected by their peers. These men will no doubt escape justice ad go on to enjoy successful careers PROTECTING YOU.
quiteinformed wrote: This is wrong. Regardless of whether you are like Mr. Larter and can’t see obvious points, or want to play devil’s advocate, these are serious allegations that demand immediate investigation.
If we take Mr. MacPhee’s account of the incident, which is said to be backed up by witnesses, why wasn’t this investigated? A week has passed and we hear only now, after this has gone to media, that this is worthy of investigation.
At the very least, if this was corrections officers, they of all people should have known better. Forget how cowardly it is to kick a person who is down, corrections officers are expertly trained and know the law.
If this did happen as Mr. MacPhee accounts, and it was corrections officers, they should be charged, lose their jobs and see what it’s like to be on the inside of the jail cell.
The Gate should also worry about this. What kind of bar can have a fight go on for five minutes and not deal with it? I’ve been to this bar a few times and they are pretty weak on bouncers.
As a public, we need to worry when those protecting us are alleged to have acted so violent.
Lots of rumors swirling in the city about this.
The Itchy Beaver wrote: Police impartiality when dealing with other paramilitary forces is cozy. The City Police would be wise to tread carefully.
This story must have some history… although police/guards/ military types can get extremely aggressive if they see a competing male socializing with ‘their women.’
The best witnesses should be the female dance companions.
My experience has shown that PEI bars have never been safe from rampant violence as a lot of the folks are just plain nuts.
Srakken wrote “Charlottetown police deputy Chief Richard Collins cautioned that bar assaults can be difficult to investigate, due to dim lighting and potential witnesses having various of degrees of alcohol intake”
aka we are not going to do anything
MacPhee said he worries the close relationship between police and correctional officers could affect the investigation, and he doesn’t want to see any special treatment.
You got that right.
Maybe the RCMP should handle this one
SIR SHRED’S ALOT wrote: Typical of all those rent-a-cops, not being allowed to carry a gun so they pound the crap out of people when they get a chance. Just goes to show the level of responsibility of correctional workers and why they aren’t allowed to carry tasers. Seems to me we should only let the responsible, role models of our society carry tasers, like the police.
UH OH, this Sir Shred’s Alot guy is pro taser!!!! Take that you anti taser-ists
Thomas_J wrote: Skip the excuses, Chief, and get on with a first class investigation.
And get some PR help. You make it sound like you’ve given up before you started.
Co-op Member wrote: thinking there is more to this story then we are hearing, I can’t see an unprovoked attack on a well respected man. there is always a spark to start a flame… let’s hope this man is ok…
Brian Larter wrote: Interestingly this article depicts one side of a story. I find it very hard to believe that a random act of unprovoked violence occurred with only one party potentially consuming alcohol. Nowhere in the article does it discuss Mr. MacPhee’s actions at the bar that evening, which is creating an unfair attack on these individuals. He is creating the illusion that a bar fight was a brutal attack by ‘correctional officers’ comparing them to ‘bikers’. I hope that all individuals reading this article are aware of the bias that he is depicting. I expect that these individuals have witnesses to confirm their side of the story.
Leave a Reply