Nova Scotia man faces multiple charges after racist incident at Halifax Costco and armed arrest
Randall Byron Publicover, 37, of East Quoddy, Nova Scotia, faces numerous charges stemming from a July 4 racist tirade at a Halifax Costco and his subsequent arrest on July 9, during which he brandished a weapon at police.
A 37-year-old Nova Scotia man is facing a series of criminal charges connected to a racist outburst at a Halifax Costco store and an armed confrontation with police during his arrest five days later.
Randall Byron Publicover of East Quoddy, near Sheet Harbour, is accused of going on a racist tirade at the Costco store on Chain Lake Drive in Bayers Lake on July 4. Video of the incident, which circulated widely on social media, shows Publicover yelling at Muslim women wearing hijabs, telling them to leave the country and that they would be killed. Police allege his statements incited hatred against “people of African or Pakistani or South Asian descent” and included threats to cause bodily harm or death.
Store security escorted Publicover out only after he struck a man who was recording the incident on his cellphone. The mischief charge and one assault charge involve the man recording the video, while other charges involve a different man.
By September 3, Publicover faced two counts each of uttering threats and assault, plus single counts of publicly inciting hatred, criminal harassment, intimidation, and mischief related to the Costco incident. These charges are due back in Halifax provincial court on October 29.
Publicover was apprehended on July 9 at his home in East Quoddy after brandishing a weapon at officers. Police used a conductive energy weapon, commonly known as a stun gun, to subdue him during the arrest. He was arraigned in Dartmouth provincial court on eight additional charges arising from his interaction with police, including four counts of uttering threats, two counts of resisting arrest, and two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Defence lawyer Patrick MacEwen appeared on Publicover’s behalf in court, as the accused was not present. MacEwen requested an adjournment until November 27 for election and plea on the arrest-related charges.
Publicover was released from custody under a $2,000 bail order. His bail conditions prohibit him from being within 50 metres of the Costco store on Chain Lake Drive in Bayers Lake or any mosque or Islamic community centre in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The conditions also ban him from contacting one alleged assault victim or attending their home, school, or workplace, and restrict his possession of firearms and use of knives.