A 41-year-old man from Ontario who attacked a security supervisor at Slemon Park and then struck her with his truck has been found not criminally responsible, a P.E.I. court heard Monday.
Incident, charges and diagnosis
The court was told the accused, identified in court documents as Alexy Lacrest, has a history of mental illness and has been diagnosed with bipolar psychosis. He faced six criminal charges following the April incident, including attempted murder.
According to an agreed statement of facts read during the hearing, Lacrest had been living with his parents in Peterborough, Ont., before he went missing late on April 19. Local police in Ontario had publicly asked for assistance locating him, citing concerns for his welfare.
On April 21 a form 1 mental-health warrant was issued under the Mental Health Act, enabling immediate transfer of a person to a psychiatric facility where there is an imminent risk of harm to themselves or others. The court heard Lacrest was not in Ontario when the warrant was issued; he had been travelling for several days and had not slept when he arrived in Slemon Park in the early hours of April 24.
What happened at Slemon Park
Slemon Park, the former Royal Canadian Air Force base that has been repurposed as a business park just outside Summerside, became the scene of the confrontation. A security supervisor on patrol discovered Lacrest banging on the door of Hangar 9. The supervisor attempted to move him along by flashing lights and using the vehicle horn, but then began to follow his vehicle when she noticed concerning behaviour, including making faces and pulling at his hair.
The court record states the guard asked whether he was all right. Lacrest responded with a "
derogatory remark" and then the interaction escalated into a violent attack that left the guard injured after being struck by his truck.
Legal finding and its meaning
The not-criminally-responsible finding means the judge concluded Lacrest committed the acts in question while suffering from a mental disorder that rendered him incapable of appreciating the nature and quality of his conduct or of knowing it was wrong.
Under Canadian law, such a finding usually results in the accused being placed under the jurisdiction of a provincial review board rather than receiving a standard criminal sentence. The review board then directs treatment, supervision and restrictions based on assessments of public safety and the individual's needs.
Community reaction and public safety
People who work at Slemon Park and in Summerside say they are concerned when violent incidents happen on-site; the property houses multiple businesses and sees frequent vehicle and foot traffic. Security staff in business parks and industrial areas often work alone or in small teams, making them vulnerable during unpredictable encounters.
- Location: Hangar 9, Slemon Park, near Summerside
- Date of incident: Early hours of April 24
- Accused: Alexy Lacrest, 41, from Peterborough, Ont.
- Charges: Six charges including attempted murder (as noted in court documents)
- Court outcome: Found not criminally responsible
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 19 | Reported missing from parents' home in Peterborough, Ont. |
| April 21 | Form 1 mental-health warrant issued in Ontario under the Mental Health Act |
| April 24 (early hours) | Arrived at Slemon Park and assaulted a security supervisor at Hangar 9; was later charged |
| Hearing | Found not criminally responsible due to bipolar psychosis diagnosis |
Context on mental-health law
Cases that raise the not-criminally-responsible question often prompt public debate about the balance between treatment and safety. The Mental Health Act provision that allows immediate apprehension for psychiatric assessment is intended to prevent harm, but courts and review boards must next decide on care pathways that protect communities while addressing the medical needs of individuals.
For local employers and security teams, the case highlights the risks staff can face and the importance of training, reporting protocols and co‑operation with police and health services when encountering people in obvious distress.
Police and court documents used at the hearing did not identify the security supervisor by name. No additional information about any long-term placement or conditions ordered by the court was provided in the materials released at the hearing.
Local health and justice officials can offer more detail on what steps follow a not-criminally-responsible finding, including review-board processes and possible community conditions. Those seeking immediate assistance with mental-health crises are urged to contact local emergency services or provincial crisis lines.
This report draws on material presented in P.E.I. court and information disclosed in the agreed statement of facts.
