Suspect in attempted armed break-ins in Whitehorse found not criminally responsible

A man charged after attempted armed break-ins in Whitehorse's Whistle Bend neighbourhood has been found not criminally responsible on all counts.

A Yukon judge made the finding in Cole Sinclair's case last week following a psychological evaluation.

The details of the evaluation are not public.

Whitehorse RCMP arrested Sinclair last spring after receiving a call about a break-in in progress at a home in Whistle Bend.

Home surveillance video circulated on Facebook showed a person wearing a mask, sunglasses and dark clothing bashing a door with what appeared to be a shotgun in an apparent attempt to gain entry to the house on April 12, 2023.

The report triggered a heavy police response, with parts of Whistle Bend temporarily closed to traffic as officers investigated.

Police later confirmed that the suspect had tried to enter more than one home.

Officers arrested Sinclair three weeks later. He was charged with two counts of breaking-and-entering and one count each of using a firearm in the commission of an offence, carrying a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence and improper storage of a firearm.

Sinclair was also later charged with several counts related to allegedly violating his bail conditions.

The not-criminally-responsible finding applies to all the charges against him.

His case is now being handled by the Yukon Review Board.

Sinclair must still abide by several release conditions, including living at a specific address, abiding by the rules of that residence and having no contact with more than 20 people.