A police officer from Halifax testified on Monday that he had to physically intervene to stop a bouncer from choking an unconscious patron outside a bar in downtown nearly three years ago. Const. Jairus Lamphier recounted the incident in Nova Scotia Supreme Court involving Alexander Pishori Levy, a former security officer at the Halifax Alehouse, who is facing charges of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death in the case of Ryan Sawyer’s death on December 24, 2022.
The tragic event sparked discussions about the training and oversight of bar bouncers, with Sawyer’s family advocating for better regulation of security personnel at drinking establishments. In court, Lamphier described the distressing scene he encountered, where Levy was holding Sawyer in a dangerous position with his arm around the patron’s neck and applying pressure. Despite Lamphier’s repeated demands to release the chokehold, Levy appeared unresponsive until the officer physically intervened.
Following the altercation, Sawyer was found unconscious with severe physical symptoms, prompting immediate CPR efforts by the officers. Despite their efforts, Sawyer was pronounced dead at the hospital. Levy maintains his innocence in the case, as the trial unfolds with testimonies from multiple witnesses, including Sawyer’s twin brother, Kyle Sawyer, who was present during the fatal incident.
The court heard accounts of the events leading up to the tragic outcome, with details of an altercation between Kyle Sawyer and another patron inside the bar escalating to physical confrontation. Video evidence showed the sequence of events outside the Alehouse, capturing the moments before the fatal encounter between Levy and the Sawyer brothers.
Kyle Sawyer, under cross-examination, admitted to being intoxicated that night, possibly contributing to the escalating conflict. The trial continues with further testimonies and evidence to unravel the circumstances surrounding Ryan Sawyer’s untimely death.
The Halifax Alehouse, where the incident took place, has since closed, marking a somber chapter as legal proceedings seek to bring clarity and justice to the tragic event.
