POLICE – No assault charge against journalist in bar incident with mayor
Tim Petruk (left); Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson (right).
There will be no criminal charges against Castanet journalist Tim Petruk for allegedly assaulting Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson at Bailey’s pub on June 29.
The mayor had alleged Petruk “hit” him aggressively on the back as Petruk was leaving the establishment.
RCMP said today (Aug. 13, 2025) an investigation into the alleged assault has concluded.
Police said it was determined that while “unwanted contact” had occurred the interaction that transpired did not constitute an assault. On that basis a criminal charge will not be advanced to Crown Counsel.
“Our investigators completed a thorough investigation which included reviewing video and speaking with witnesses, along with assessing all circumstances of this incident,” said RCMP Supt. Jeffery Pelley.
“The public are reminded to respect personal boundaries and not make unwanted contact.”
ArmchairMayor.ca 
I think if Petruk was a true journalist rather than the actual ads salesman he his he would be focusing his investigative and writing prowess on the myriad of ways that the current and previous CAO waste and make questionable decisions involving public money.
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Unwanted touching is not cool.
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A SLAP from a journalist and anti-SLAPP from a former journalist should almost cancel each other……
My guess is that more than one fist fight has started with an unwanted smack from someone. Reid can’t respond that way.
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and while we are at it could someone remind the Mayor to stop wasting RCMP time with frivolous complaints
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Hopefully in future Mr. Petruk will keep his hands to himself. It’s enough that he has his editorial platform to demean the mayor–he doesn’t need to smack him too.
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