Truro Police Service responded to a robbery in the downtown area where a male was assaulted. / RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment arrested two youth involved in a racially motivated assault at a recreation centre in Cole Harbour

**** Truro Police Release On July 23, 2025, the Truro Police Service responded to a robbery in the downtown area where a male was assaulted. The suspect fled the area on foot and stole a Town of Truro truck which was parked nearby. Truro Police were able to track the stolen truck via GPS and discovered the truck was in the Stewiacke area. Truro Police officers made their way to Stewiacke, along with the RCMP. The stolen vehicle fled in a dangerous manner and was not pursued by police. The suspect then made his way to Enfield and abandoned the Town of Truro truck, which was recovered by police. The suspect stole a second truck in Enfield, which police were able to track by utilizing a police helicopter and ground units from both the RCMP and the Truro Police Service. The suspect was arrested in rural Colchester County after unsuccessfully trying to evade police. Jarom Elliott Merriam, 41 years-of-age of Pictou County has been charged with robbery, threats, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, flight from police, and dangerous operation of a conveyance from the Truro Police Service files. Additional charges are expected from the offences that occurred in the RCMP jurisdictions. Merriam has been remanded into custody and will be back in Truro Provincial Court today. - **** RCMP Media Release

RCMP arrest two youth involved in racially motivated assault in Cole Harbour

RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment arrested two youth involved in a racially motivated assault at a recreation centre in Cole Harbour.

On July 21, at approximately 4:50 p.m., RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment responded to a report of an assault in the parking lot of a recreation centre on Forest Hills Parkway.

Through the investigation, RCMP officers learned three youths had followed a man, a woman and two children to a vehicle.  The youths shouted obscenities and racially motivated hate speech before one of the youths sprayed an irritant in the man’s face.   Once police were called, the youths fled on foot.

On July 22, 2025, while assisting Halifax Regional Police with a call for service in Dartmouth, two of the youths involved in the assault were arrested.  A can of sensory irritant was seized.  Both youths are facing charges of Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose and Assault with a Weapon.  One of the youths is facing an additional charge of Fail to Comply with Release Order.

Both youths appeared in Halifax Provincial Youth Court on July 23 where they were released on conditions.

The RCMP takes incidents of hate with the utmost seriousness and condemns these criminal acts.

If you believe you are a victim of a hate crime or hate incident, contact your local police to report.  To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

The investigation is ongoing.  Anyone with information about this incident, is asked to contact RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment at 902-490-5020 or Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers.

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