A Canadian bible counsellor has dodged criminal charges after a police investigation found he had not acted illegally when he attempted an 'exorcism' on a camper.
A boy attending Redberry Bible camp in Saskatoon began experiencing symptoms of a seizure on June 13, CBC reports.
Instead of calling for a medic, staff decided to perform an exorcism instead.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have since launched two investigations into the incident after receiving reports from parents who were called by their children to rescue them from the camp.
Advert
Both police probes have now been closed after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found that no illegal activity had actually taken place.
"After completing a second investigation, which included interviewing multiple witnesses, Saskatoon [general investigation] officers came to the conclusion as the Blain Lake RCMP officers: no contraventions to the Criminal Code occurred and no criminal charges can be laid," a police statement read, as per CBC.
Officer in Charge of the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit Josh Graham said, as per the Daily Mail: "Criminal investigations ultimately boil down to two things: gathering evidence and determining whether that evidence indicates an individual committed a crime as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada."
"Practices like the one reported may be concerning to some people, but they are not illegal in Canada."
Redberry Bible Camp executive director Roland Thiessen admitted the exorcism took place in a call recording obtained by CBC.
Advert
While speaking to a concerned parent Thiessen admitted he attended the late-night exorcism, which was conducted by staff member Carlos Doerksen.
"[Doerksen] was praying that Jesus would free this boy," Thiessen said, as per the 15-minute phone call obtained by CBC.
Concerned parent Brooke Elliott had called to clarify rumours she had heard from the children.
Thiessen told her that the staff member 'has experience with the powers of darkness'.
"He was probably the best person to be in the room at that point," Thiessen said, as per the recording.
Advert
"It was not specifically authorised by the camp. [But] it was not something that once it began could be stopped."
Elliott later dubbed the incident as 'disturbing' to CBC.
"How can anyone feel safe sending their child to this camp," she said.
Rachel Lang