Nova Scotia man sent for fitness assessment

A Nova Scotia man who appeared before provincial court in Stephenville twice last week was sent for a fitness assessment by Judge Jacqueline Jenkins.

Mark Baltzer first appeared before Judge Jenkins last Tuesday, where 16 charges [laid on him June 20] were read aloud by the judge.

Mr. Baltzer interrupted her several times, first asking her to speak up, then asking her if she had to read each charge out individually.

Mr. Baltzer, 53, of King's County, N.S. was arrested on June 20 on the Trans Canada Highway outside of St. George's and charged with 16 counts including unauthorized possession of firearms, unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon, and driving while disqualified.

Channel Port aux Basques RCMP received a complaint from Marine Atlantic that an adult male was on board the MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood with a number of weapons in his vehicle. He was alleged to be travelling to Newfoundland to kill police officers in the Corner Brook area.

RCMP from Port aux Basques and Stephenville, along with the Police Dog Service, were able to get Mr. Baltzer into custody without incident during his TCH arrest.

RCMP found boxes of rifle ammunition, a high powered rifle, a cross bow, a bow, numerous arrows and a machete inside his vehicle.

Along with the numerous firearm and weapons offences, Mr. Baltzer was arrested for breaching conditions of an undertaking for being outside the province of Nova Scotia.

As the crown protested Mr. Baltzer's release from custody on Tuesday, Judge Jenkins set a time on Thursday for court to reconvene and continue with his first appearance.

Mr. Baltzer was also set to appear before a judge in Corner Brook on Tuesday, stemming from an arrest on May 2 by Corner Brook RCMP following a public disturbance complaint.

At that time, he was charged with three breaches of an undertaking, careless use of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and two counts of possession of a controlled drug or substance.

Before court could resume to deal with the 16 charges on Thursday, Judge Jenkins read an information with four additional charges laid against Mr. Baltzer June 21 and June 23.

They included threats made against police officers in Corner Brook and Baie Verte and one against a guard at the holding cell in Stephenville.

The Crown made application to send Mr. Baltzer to the Waterford Hospital in St. John's for a psychiatric assessment to determine whether he is fit to stand trail or if he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of his alleged offences.

The Crown called two RCMP officers to testify as to Mr. Baltzer's behaviour while in custody in Stephenville, and also during his June 22 court appearance.

A letter from a girlfriend, found in his truck the night he was arrested on the TCH, was read aloud by Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy. In it, the woman asks Mr. Baltzer to allow doctors and nurses to help him to get better.

A statement given by a woman travelling on the Marine Atlantic ferry who met and spoke with Mr. Baltzer was also read aloud. In it, the woman says Mr. Baltzer told her about his mistrust of RCMP and that he was going to kill an officer in the Baie Verte area. She also said he had mentioned being treated in a psychiatric hospital.

During the officer's testimony, Mr. Baltzer interrupted them several times. Judge Jenkins interrupted one officer's testimony as Mr. Baltzer had lay down across the bench on which he was sitting and closed his eyes.

Mr. Baltzer did not agree to the fitness assessment on his own accord, but Judge Jenkins issued an order for such, telling him there was no doubt in her mind that he is a very intelligent and articulate man.

"Which is another reason your behaviour in court causes me some concern," she said.

Mr. Baltzer was remanded to custody and will undergo a seven-day fitness assessment at the Waterford Hospital in St. John's, after which he will reappear before Judge Jenkins on July 5 at 1:30 p.m.

reporter@thegeorgian.ca