City Cop Accused of Witness Tampering Makes Court Appearance

A Medicine Hat police constable facing criminal allegations of attempting to obstruct justice had his first appearance on the matter Wednesday morning at the Medicine Hat Court of Justice.

Const. Noel Darr, 56, is accused of attempting to pervert the course of action in a judicial proceeding by dissuading or attempting to dissuade a witness, “by threats, bribes or other corrupt means from giving evidence,” according to court documents.

Criminal charges were sworn on July 8 by an Edmonton Police Service (EPS) detective after the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) requested an investigation in February 2023 following a complaint by a former MHPS employee.

The Medicine Hat Owl has received information confirming that complaint was filed by former MHPS Chief Mike Worden.

According to a July 7 MHPS media release, it was, “during that (EPS) investigation the alleged criminal conduct occurred.”

However, court documents indicate the alleged offence occurred between February 2022 and November 2023.

MHPS Const. Noel Darr

The Medicine Hat Owl has confirmed Darr’s criminal allegation is connected to the investigation into the constable’s role in an internal MHPS dispute which resulted in Worden resigning from the service in May 2022.

According to a lawsuit filed in March 2024 by Worden against the city seeking $1.85 million in damages, Darr was involved in a smear campaign against the then MHPS chief.

That alleged smear campaign also involved former MHPS Insp. Brent Secondiak and current Sgt. Carissa Witkowski, according to the lawsuit’s statement of claim.

Worden claims a complaint filed by Darr against him was false, defamatory and had malicious intent.

In Darr’s complaint against Worden, included in the statement of claim, the constable alleges the former chief utilized a social media account to meet up with women.

“(Worden) engaged in repeated requests for sexual activity (ie. a "blow job" in exchange for gym training time, glory hole, naked massage, sexual favors etc.),” stated Darr’s complaint. “And divulged (Worden’s) own personal detailed experiences that fall well beyond societal norms, including voyeurism, online sex acts, group sex, cross-dressing, sadomasochism, bi-sexual acts and sodomy.”

Darr also alleged in his complaint against Worden that the former MHPS chief had a “predilection toward sexual violence,” which was manifested through, “rape fantasy.”

The lawsuit also claims Darr was involved in recruiting both local and provincial journalists to broadcast false information.

An internal investigation into Darr’s complaint launched in April 2022 by the Medicine Hat Police Commission, who in turn contracted Veritas Solutions to conduct, cleared Worden of any wrongdoing.

None of the claims in the lawsuit have been proven in court.

Darr’s employment status with MHPS is currently unknown.

His next court appearance is set for Sept. 24.