Const. Blaise Picketts, whose full name is Jonathan Warren Blaise Picketts, agreed to the facts in a decision by the RCMP Conduct Board, which was released this week. He also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest in the incident in a separate criminal proceeding last year. The incident took place in April 2020. It started in the early afternoon on a day when Picketts was off duty. He and some other police dog handlers met in Surrey to train their dogs. The group then decided to go to one of the officers’ home in Langley to socialize. En route, Picketts picked up alcohol at a liquor store, which he drank at the officer’s home. A few hours later he went to another officer’s house in Surrey, and continued to drink, at one point leaving to drive back to the liquor store, before continuing to drink. According to the Board of Conduct decision, Picketts stayed at that officer’s home until 2 a.m., when he left in his police-issued SUV, with his service dog, rifle, ammunition and mobile workstation. .
Collision with a concrete barrier
Picketts admits to scraping the SUV along a concrete barrier on the Golden Ears Bridge while driving in Maple Ridge. The collision caused about $7,000 in damage, for which Picketts later reimbursed the RCMP. At about 2:30 a.m., the officer fell asleep behind the wheel at a Burger King drive-thru, according to the conduct board ruling. An employee tried to wake him up for 20 minutes before he got scared and called 911. At about 3 a.m., an RCMP constable arrived, unsure if he was dealing with an armed police officer or someone driving a stolen police vehicle. According to the disciplinary decision, the constable found Picketts asleep with the engine running and a credit card in his right hand. It took several attempts to wake up and an open can of alcohol was found on the floor. After a second officer arrived at the Burger King, the two attempted to take a breathalyzer, but Picketts bit the straw, turned away from the device and failed to blow hard enough.
Resisting arrest
He was arrested, but refused to comply, became uncooperative and swore at officers. According to the Board of Conduct ruling, Picketts became combative and physically resisted arrest, at one point bringing his knee up quickly in the direction of one constable’s groin and grabbing the handcuffs in a way that injured the other officer’s thumb. The RCMP Board of Conduct decision does not specify the location of the Burger King, but the only one in this city, pictured here in the Google Streetview image, is located in the 20200-block of Lougheed Hwy. (Google Streetview) More officers were rushed to the Burger King to assist and it took several officers to put him in the back of a police vehicle.
“He raised his middle finger to the camera”
At the Maple Ridge Police Department, Picketts continued to be uncooperative. “The video of the arrest shows that when Constable Picketts was being photographed in the cells, he put his head down and put his middle finger into the camera,” the Conduct Board decision said. He was eventually released after sobering up. After pleading guilty to resisting arrest, Picketts was sentenced to three months in jail and fined $1,000. “I find his actions demonstrate a serious lack of judgment and are inconsistent with the duties and responsibilities of a member of the RCMP,” Christine Sakiris wrote in her decision to the Conduct Board. “Members cannot defy, in their private lives, the very laws they are called upon to enforce.” Picketts was allowed to remain a member of the RCMP, but was given 30 days pay and 15 vacation days for the incident. He was struck off the Integrated Police Dog Services and is ineligible for promotion for three years. He was also ordered to undergo medical treatment and apologize to the arresting officers.
title: “Rcmp Officer Disciplined After Passing Out At Burger King Drive Thru " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-24” author: “Michelle Delacruz”
Const. Blaise Picketts, whose full name is Jonathan Warren Blaise Picketts, agreed to the facts in a decision by the RCMP Conduct Board, which was released this week. He also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest in the incident in a separate criminal proceeding last year. The incident took place in April 2020. It started in the early afternoon on a day when Picketts was off duty. He and some other police dog handlers met in Surrey to train their dogs. The group then decided to go to one of the officers’ home in Langley to socialize. En route, Picketts picked up alcohol at a liquor store, which he drank at the officer’s home. A few hours later he went to another officer’s house in Surrey, and continued to drink, at one point leaving to drive back to the liquor store, before continuing to drink. According to the Board of Conduct decision, Picketts stayed at that officer’s home until 2 a.m., when he left in his police-issued SUV, with his service dog, rifle, ammunition and mobile workstation. .
Collision with a concrete barrier
Picketts admits to scraping the SUV along a concrete barrier on the Golden Ears Bridge while driving in Maple Ridge. The collision caused about $7,000 in damage, for which Picketts later reimbursed the RCMP. At about 2:30 a.m., the officer fell asleep behind the wheel at a Burger King drive-thru, according to the conduct board ruling. An employee tried to wake him up for 20 minutes before he got scared and called 911. At about 3 a.m., an RCMP constable arrived, unsure if he was dealing with an armed police officer or someone driving a stolen police vehicle. According to the disciplinary decision, the constable found Picketts asleep with the engine running and a credit card in his right hand. It took several attempts to wake up and an open can of alcohol was found on the floor. After a second officer arrived at the Burger King, the two attempted a breathalyzer, but Picketts bit the straw, turned away from the device and failed to blow hard enough.
Resisting arrest
He was arrested, but refused to comply, became uncooperative and swore at officers. According to the Board of Conduct ruling, Picketts became combative and physically resisted arrest, at one point bringing his knee up quickly in the direction of one constable’s groin and grabbing the handcuffs in a way that injured the other officer’s thumb. The RCMP Board of Conduct decision does not specify the location of the Burger King, but the only one in this city, pictured here in the Google Streetview image, is located in the 20200-block of Lougheed Hwy. (Google Streetview) More officers were rushed to the Burger King to assist and it took several officers to put him in the back of a police vehicle.
“He raised his middle finger to the camera”
At the Maple Ridge Police Department, Picketts continued to be uncooperative. “The video of the arrest shows that when Constable Picketts was being photographed in the cells, he put his head down and put his middle finger into the camera,” the Conduct Board decision said. He was eventually released after sobering up. After pleading guilty to resisting arrest, Picketts was sentenced to three months in jail and fined $1,000. “I find his actions demonstrate a serious lack of judgment and are inconsistent with the duties and responsibilities of a member of the RCMP,” Christine Sakiris wrote in her decision to the Conduct Board. “Members cannot defy, in their private lives, the very laws they are called upon to enforce.” Picketts was allowed to remain a member of the RCMP, but was given 30 days pay and 15 vacation days for the incident. He was struck off the Integrated Police Dog Services and is ineligible for promotion for three years. He was also ordered to undergo medical treatment and apologize to the arresting officers.
