AMHERST - A former Springhill police officer accused of theft and drug possession was released from custody Monday, after being arrested over the weekend.
Joshua Wilfred Demers was arrested by his former co-workers with the Springhill Police Service and is facing seven charges under the Criminal Code and four under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
He's charged with six counts of theft under $5,000 and one count of obstructing justice, as well as four charges of possession of marijuana.
Four of theft charges are for allegedly stealing marijuana from the main evidence room at the police detachment. The count of obstructing justice is for tampering with evidence bags in the evidence room.
The additional two theft charges are for a snow shovel and approximately 20L of gas from the department.
The incidents occurred between Aug. 22, 2010, and Jan. 22, 2011. Some of the incidents occurred while Demers was a member of the Springhill Police Service.
When arrested, Demers was no longer a member of the Springhill Police Service.
"The Springhill Police Service arrested a former officer over the weekend," acting police chief Dean Ruddick said Monday, reading from a prepared statement from his office at town hall. "The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time."
During his first court appearance, Demers, escorted by sheriffs, had his matter stand down so Legal Aid duty counsel, Andy Melvin, had time to speak to both the federal and provincial Crown attorneys.
Just before 12:30 p.m., Demers was brought back into the courtroom where Melvin said the three parties were able to come to a release agreement.
Demers will return to provincial court at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 28 to answer to the charges.
With files from Christopher Gooding.
