Skip to content

'Difficult' suspect destroys $1,400 camera while being fingerprinted by Sault cops

'The damage was beyond repair': 37-year-old pleaded guilty to multiple charges
220721saultcourthouseMP
The Sault Ste. Marie Courthouse is pictured in this file photo.

David Rous destroyed a $1,400 camera when a city police officer was fingerprinting him last month after he was arrested for violating a probation order.

He was taken into custody on July 30 after the cops responded to a call about a domestic dispute on Northland Road.

Rous, 37, had violated a Jan. 22 order that prohibited him from communicating with or being within 50 metres of the woman.

On Monday, he pleaded guilty to three breach of probation counts stemming from his actions on that day.

He also was convicted of mischief for damaging the camera and obstructing police on July 31.

Ontario Court Justice John Condon heard the accused swung his left arm on top of the fingerprinting machine and struck the camera, which fell on the floor.

"The damage was beyond repair," prosecutor Adrianna Mucciarelli said. "It was in pieces."

The Crown and defence lawyer Ken Walker jointly recommended a sentence of 60 days custody, less credit for the time Rous has spent in jail on these charges.

With the enhanced credit of 1.5 days for each day of his pre-sentence custody, he faces a further 28 days behind bars.

Rous has a related record with several convictions in 2023 and this year, Mucciarelli said.

Walker told the court his client has mental health issues.

The judge noted Rous had been convicted in January of assault and a number of breaches involving the woman.

He was back in court in February for more probation violations, and here he is again and getting 60 more days.

"There's no explanation why he was being so difficult" with the officer "except to be difficult," Condon said.

"I'm at a loss why you behaved in that manner. You are putting yourself in the position where you will get more and more jail if you continue," he warned Rous, reminding him he still has two and half years to go on that probation order.

Condon described the lawyers' joint position in the lower end of the range, but imposed the sentence they requested.



About the Author: Linda Richardson

Linda Richardson is a freelance journalist who has been covering Sault Ste. Marie's courts and other local news for more than 45 years.
Read more