A Banff RCMP officer avoided a criminal record by admitting to mischief for unlawfully entering a hotel room occupied by two women. Garret Claxton, an RCMP constable, was granted an absolute discharge by Justice Sara Bagg at the Canmore Court of Justice. Claxton expressed deep regret for disturbing and frightening the women. Justice Bagg acknowledged that it was an isolated incident and noted Claxton’s positive change.
According to Crown prosecutor Euan Gilmour, one evening in late October 2022, Claxton connected with one of the women on the Tinder app, met both at two Banff bars, and visited their hotel for the hot tub and pool. The night concluded around 11:30 p.m. Claxton later returned to the hotel around 5 a.m., visibly intoxicated, and was let into the room by a night manager, causing alarm to the women before leaving incoherently. Gilmour emphasized that Claxton had no legitimate reason to enter the room.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) charged Claxton with breaking and entering. A victim impact statement revealed the woman’s ongoing struggles with panic attacks, insomnia, anxiety, and night terrors due to the incident. Claxton’s lawyer, Balfour Der, disclosed that Claxton was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and had resorted to alcohol as self-medication following two murders in Banff in 2022. Claxton underwent addiction treatment in Nanaimo, B.C., and engaged in Alcoholics Anonymous and Soberlink monitoring to address his issues.
Claxton, currently on suspended duty with pay, is preparing for a code of conduct hearing from the RCMP and aims to resume a non-frontline policing position.