A picture taken of an RCMP truck at Montreal Lake. This is not related to the events that occurred on August 8, 2022. (Facebook)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

‘I thought he was gonna kill me’: RCMP officer testifies at standoff trial

Mar 7, 2024 | 5:00 PM

RCMP Cst. Andrew Campbell says he feared for his life when a man, who had been the subject of a near seven hour standoff, jumped out a window and was suddenly standing in front of him holding a machete.

Campbell was among the last of the Crown’s witnesses to testify at the William Henderson trial at Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert.

The case dates back to August, 8, 2022 at Montreal Lake Cree Nation, when police received a complaint that two people had taken over a house on the reserve. Henderson was soon after identified as one of the suspects and was wanted for breaching a condition of his probation.

After the initial team of responding officers heard a gunshot, the RCMP’s emergency response team (ERT) was called in to assist. Campbell, who has been with the ERT team for five years, is largely responsible for tech and chemical agents.

During the attempts to get Henderson to come out of the house, a portion of the house’s front was ripped out by way a hydraulic arm connected to a light armoured police truck. At this point, a drone, about the size of a large hardcover book or magazine, and remotely controlled by Campbell, was flown inside the house to get a better view of the suspect.

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Within a few feet of the entrance, the drone captured an image of Henderson – he was holding a machete in one hand and a gun in the other.

“It was cocked back as if he was gonna hit something with it,” Campbell explained, referring to the machete.

The house where the standoff occurred. (Submitted photo)

Within a matter of seconds, an image was transmitted back to Campbell, showed Henderson swinging at the drone with the machete in a downward motion, and the device was knocked to the ground.

And then soon after Henderson threw pieces of the broken drone out the front entrance towards the armoured truck.

During the standoff, after all attempts to communicate with the suspect failed, multiple gas cannisters were tossed into the house.

The gas, which causes a sort of irritating and burning feeling on the skin, is designed to move the suspect to a desired location. Campbell testified Henderson had tossed one of the active cannisters back out.

“I saw the cannister on the lawn,” he said.

Around 9 p.m., Henderson jumped out a rear side window and landed on his feet. Recalling how Henderson was carrying a machete and a can of bear mace, Campbell testified he wondered if he would have to lethally shoot Henderson who at this point was less than 10 meters away.

“He had his arm cocked as if he was going to swing it at somebody,” Campbell testified. “I thought he was gonna kill me.”

Instead Henderson turned and began running towards the front of the house. It was at this point Campbell who was now just over 20 meters away from Henderson, discharged his conductive energy device, aiming to hit Henderson between the back of the shoulders. Explaining why he tased Henderson, Campbell said he feared for the safety of the other team members waiting out front, and wanted to ensure Henderson himself was not killed.

Henderson dropped to the ground and was lying face down, with his arms locked in a rigid position. As he was still holding the machete, several officers, including Campbell, moved in to gain control of the suspect and get the weapon away.

Wiliam Henderson sustained multiple injuries during the incident. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Campbell who had initially gone to Henderson’s upper right side, was subsequently bumped off by another officer and after losing control of Henderson’s right arm, was struck on the knuckles by the machete.

“I looked right away and the glove was not cut,” Campbell said.

While attempting to gain control of Henderson’s flailing legs, Campbell stunned Henderson a second time – this targeting the calf area. This had no effect.

Meanwhile, according to testimony heard earlier this week from Sgt. Tyler Smith, the officer responsible for prying the edged weapon from Henderson’s fingers, the edged weapon was safely secured. And once Smith moved away, Campbell then moved back to his prior position.

Henderson continued to resist and managed to get one of his arms free. It was at this point, according to Campbell, Henderson grabbed a hold of the pistol grip of one of the officer’s guns that so just so happened to be pointed directly at Campbell’s thigh.

Henderson then attempted to fire the gun three times, but was unsuccessful as the safety was still on and was being secured by one of Campbell’s free thumbs.

“It happened very quickly,” Campbell noted, but also added at the time it felt like slow motion.

Once dismissing an idea to pull his own pistol from its holster and shoot Henderson, Campbell instead used the muzzle of his gun to strike Henderson twice near his right upper eye. In response to the pain, Henderson pulled his hand away from the other officer’s gun and back towards his face. This then provided officers with the opportunity they needed to get the handcuffs on.

Once stood back up, Henderson was able to walk on his own and after receiving some medical attention, was transported to hospital in Prince Albert where he was later treated and released and then taken to a cell at Waskesiu.

When defence lawyer Patrick McDougall was given the opportunity to cross examine Campbell, he made several attempts to poke holes in the officer’s testimony.

And noting the other injuries Henderson suffered, including a circular mark below his left eye, McDougall questioned if any other officers had struck Henderson or if Campbell himself was responsible for more.

“I didn’t see anyone else strike him,” Campbell replied calmly, adding he was also only responsible for the cut near Henderson’s right eye.

The Crown’s case wrapped up on Thursday and the defence opted not to call any witnesses.

Closing arguments have been scheduled fot April 26.

Not guilty pleas were entered earlier this week to a total of eight charges including two counts of possession of a weapon (machete and bear spray), assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest and mischief by way of damaging RCMP property.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell