Still No Plea by City Cop Despite Judge’s Order To Move Forward

MHPS Const. Noel Darr

Two court dates this week for a city cop accused of witness tampering ended with no plea and two more adjournments while a special Crown prosecutor required for the case skipped both appearances. 

MHPS Const. Noel Darr is facing attempting to obstruct justice allegations in which he’s accused of trying to pervert a judicial proceedings by dissuading witnesses by threats, bribes or other corrupt means which carries a maximum 10-year jail term.

The court appearances come 10 months without a plea and following a judge’s peremptory order for next steps to be taken on the file that was issued last week. A peremptory judicial order usually requires a plea be entered at the next court date.

During last week’s court appearance, a special Crown prosecutor, required to handle the file due to the local office declaring a conflict on the matter, made a rare appearance virtually, agreeing with a Medicine Hat justice’s order for the next steps in the case be taken this week.

During Darr’s court appearances on Tuesday and Wednesday, the special prosecutor failed to show with the local Crown prosecutor indicating to the court they have been given no instructions as to how to proceed.

In a statement provided to the Owl Thursday, the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) did not address questions as to why the assigned prosecutor did not appear during Darr’s court appearances this week despite a peremptory order issued by a Medicine Hat judge requiring the next steps be taken this week.

“There have been several adjournments for this file due to the large amount of disclosure involved, some of which was received by the Crown prosecutor in mid-March 2026,” read the statement. “Since April 23, the responsibility has rested with the accused person to take the next steps.”

The statement went on to say, “on May 20, the assigned prosecutor made a virtual appearance, but the accused person was having medical issues and defence informed the court that they had been unable to meet with the accused person to discuss next steps.
“The ACPS continues to await a decision from the accused person on this.”

The ACPS has confirmed the assigned prosecutor will be present or provide instruction to the local Crown during Darr’s next court appearance.

Tuesday’s court appearance was adjourned due defence counsel falling ill but put over to Wednesday. The latter appearance was adjourned to June 2.

Both Medicine Hat provincial justice’s Jace Cowan and Cathy Regier raised concerns this week about the 10 months the case hasn’t moved forward, echoing Justice Mark Mastel’s comments when he issued the peremptory order requiring the file move forward during Darr’s court date last week. However, both Cowan and Regier allowed the matter to be adjourned.

An out of district provincial court justice is anticipated to be called in to preside over the matter once a plea is entered.

According to court documents filed by Edmonton police, the allegations stem from incidents which occurred between February 2022 and November 2023.

In a media release issued by Medicine Hat police shortly before Darr’s arrest by Edmonton police, the local service indicated the offence dates as starting a year after those indicated on court documents.

“At the request of the MHPS, the EPS (Edmonton Police Service) Professional Standards Branch initiated a PSR (Police Service Regulation) investigation in February 2023, following the receipt of complaints from a former MHPS employee,” read the statement issued on July 7, 2025. “During that investigation the alleged criminal conduct occurred.”

Darr is also part of a $1.85 million civil lawsuit filed against him by former police chief Mike Worden which includes two other MHPS officers along with the service itself and City of Medicine Hat.

Worden alleges that between March and September he was subject of a harassment campaign to force him to resign perpetrated by Darr, Sgt. Carissa Witkowski and Insp. Brenk Secondiak.

None of the allegations contained in the lawsuit have been proven in court.

According to a May 2022 statement by the Medicine Hat Police Commission, Worden was cleared of any wrongdoing after the former chief himself raised the issue of the harassment campaign to the local oversight body.

That campaign included allegations of sexual impropriety committed by Worden, according to the statement of claim filed by the former chief who resigned in May 2022, claims found unsubstantiated by the Medicine Hat Police Commission.