Man charged in alleged break-in at RCMP headquarters sent for psych evaluation

MONTREAL – A psychiatric evaluation awaits a man facing terrorism-related charges after allegedly trying to break into RCMP headquarters in Montreal this week.

Sidy Mouhamoud Keita returned to court Thursday when his lawyer asked he be seen at a psychiatric hospital.

The Crown did not object to the request that an expert determine his level of criminal responsibility in the current case.

Keita, 19, of nearby Longueuil, was arrested after allegedly trying to jump a security fence at the RCMP building on Tuesday. He faces three charges: harassment, perpetrating a terrorism hoax and breaking and entering.

Defence lawyer Vanessa Sadler said the RCMP met with Keita’s mother, who told them there were some concerns about her son’s mental welfare. In a different case this year, Keita was ordered to see a doctor because of mental-health issues.

“There was evidence in the (current) file that there was maybe some problem with his mental health,” Sadler said. “The RCMP agents also met with members of his family because they noticed themselves there might be something off about the behaviour of my client.”

Sadler noted that, while the circumstances aren’t ideal, the arrest does enable her client to get an evaluation done quickly — within the next 30 days — and possibly allow for a diagnosis of any condition he has.

“For now, he’s not necessarily all present, so it’s hard to get a real version of what happened or why he went there,” Sadler said.

The case returns to court April 29.