PRINCE ALBERT – A Radisson man is suing the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General of Saskatchewan for $25 million, claiming dozens of RCMP officers engaged in a "conspiracy" against him, intentionally deceiving the public to incite vigilantism and hatred.
Brent Adair Habetler — who legally added "Sir" to his name — filed the statement of claim against the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan on March 10 in Prince Albert Court of King’s Bench.
Habetler alleges the RCMP falsely labeled him a "convicted felon" in a March 2023 media release. The RCMP media release in question had warned residents in the Maidstone area that Habetler was charged with committing an indecent act and was a "high risk to reoffend."
Habetler wants the court to order the RCMP to stop operating as a police force at any capacity inside the province of Saskatchewan and to have all officers involved in investigations against him be reprimanded or fired.
Saskatchewan RCMP were contacted for comment but didn’t respond by publication time.
Habetler's lawsuit claims the RCMP used resources to intimidate him, violating his Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that the “RCMP fabricated an event which resulted in the arrest,” which violated his Charter rights and resulted in “acts of theft and damages to his property.”
Habetler accuses the RCMP of threatening him while he was in custody, lying to him, and assaulting him, which he said resulted in him requiring hospitalization to treat injuries “sustained by excess force.” He accuses police of denying him bathroom access, food, and water during a 59-hour detention.
Habetler further alleges the RCMP released information about false convictions to international law enforcement, including the Bermuda Police Service, leading to what he claims were false charges against him in Bermuda.
In November 2023, Habetler was arrested in Bermuda and charged with masturbating in a public place and assaulting a man. In April 2024, Habetler was found guilty in Bermuda Magistrates Court on charges of committing an indecent act in a public place (masturbating in front of a young girl), and assault against an adult guest at a Bermuda resort. Habetler left Bermuda and returned to Saskatchewan, skipping his sentencing hearing. In absentia a Bermuda court sentenced Habetler to 10 weeks of jail for the indecent act and fined him $500 for the assault.
Habetler’s recent lawsuit in Prince Albert Court of King’s Bench also claims RCMP officers contacted Habetler’s employers, damaging his reputation, and encouraged public protests against him. In October 2024, Radisson residents demonstrated outside his home following allegations that he approached a child at Sandy Beach Regional Park while under a court-ordered peace bond barring him from playgrounds.
Following the alleged incident at the park, numerous police agencies were involved in an investigation that led officers to execute a search warrant on Habetler’s Radisson home. They included Saskatchewan RCMP's Battlefords General Investigations Section, High Risk Offender Unit, Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team, Crime Reduction Team, Federal Support Services, Saskatchewan Highway Patrol and Wilton Police Service. During the search of Habetler’s home, police say, officers found, and seized, three loaded, unsecured firearms.
Police charged Habetler with unauthorized possession of a firearm, three counts of unsafe storage of a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and possession of a firearm knowing the possession was unauthorized. They also charged him with disobeying a court order by being at the playground when he was under a court-ordered peace bond to stay away from playgrounds.
The charge of disobeying a court order was stayed in Lloydminster Provincial Court in March. When the Crown stays charges, they put the charges on hold. This means the charges can still be “brought back to life" within one year and the person could be prosecuted again on those same charges, but this rarely happens.
The six weapons-related charges are still before the court and were moved from Lloydminster Provincial Court to Saskatoon Provincial Court. On March 20, Habetler’s case was adjourned in Saskatoon court for case management on April 15.
Following is the text of what Habetler is seeking in his suit:
1. The plaintiff seeks an interim injunction ordering the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to stop operating as a police force at any capacity inside the Province of Saskatchewan.
2. The plaintiff is seeking to have all Royal Canadian Mounted Police employees involved in the conspiracy against the plaintiff suitably reprimanded and or fired.
3. The plaintiff is asking the court to change media release requirements to show only those convicted of crimes to be published and to protect all members of society that have the right to be presumed innocent when facing charges in Saskatchewan.
4. The plaintiff is seeking to have the court make an order delivering a new policy that police employees and police organizations opinions, solely, are not to be used for consideration of bail decisions or media releases in Saskatchewan.
5. The plaintiff is seeking to have the court order the removal of a police reporting system called PROS and any system that labels people without a verified criminal record resulting from a conviction in a court.
6. The plaintiff is seeking to get a published apology acknowledging the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's actions against the plaintiff were without merit and that they intentionally sought to damage the reputation of the plaintiff and isolate him with the use of false charges, false media reports and false accusations.
7. The plaintiff is seeking to have an interim injunction prohibiting the RCMP from having any contact whatsoever with him or his immediate family.
8. The plaintiff is seeking damages in the amount exceeding $25,000,000.
9. Post judgement interest as per the Enforcement of Money Judgement Act.
10. The plaintiff seeks a finding of joint and severable liability.
11. The plaintiff claims party and party costs of this action.
12. Such other relief this Honourable Court deems just.
