Judge Issues Order For City Cop Facing Criminal Charges

A city judge is ordering a local cop to move his criminal matter forward following 10 months of court appearances without a plea on allegations related to witness tampering.

Medicine Hat Const. Noel Darr, 57, was charged with attempting to obstruct justice by Edmonton police in July 2025 connected with allegations he dissuaded witnesses in a judicial proceedings, “by threats, bribes or other corrupt means from giving evidence.”

While the charges were laid last year, the allegations stem from incidents which occurred between February 2022 and November 2023, according to a sworn information filed by an Edmonton police investigator.

A Medicine Hat police media release contradicts that sworn information, stating the allegations began February 2023 following MHPS initiating a Police Service Regulation investigation.

“During that investigation the alleged criminal conduct occurred,” stated city police in its July 2025 media release.

Defence counsel Clint Yarshenko told the court during Darr’s court appearance Wednesday, as he has in previous court appearances, that getting instructions from his client has been difficult due to unspecified health issues.

Medicine Hat provincial court Justice Mark Mastel noted the 10 months of appearances, issuing a peremptory judicial order that Darr move the criminal matter forward at his next court date.

Such orders in similar situations require either a plea be entered or substantiated reasons why it can’t be and, if neither is presented, a default not guilty plea will be entered with the process of picking a trial date beginning.

Darr’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 26 at Medicine Hat Court of Justice.

The Crown has elected to proceed with indictable charges against Darr which carry a maximum 10-year jail sentence.