A man involved in a racially charged incident at a Halifax Costco is now facing modified charges, with some of the original accusations dropped. Randall Byron Publicover, 37, was initially charged with 10 offenses following a July 4 altercation captured on video at the Bayers Lake store. The Crown has introduced amended charges in Halifax provincial court.
Publicover’s defense attorney, Patrick MacEwan, informed the court that new charges had been brought forward, and he would need to discuss them with his client before proceeding. Publicover now stands accused of two counts of assault, along with new charges of harassment and intimidation. The number of uttering threats charges has been reduced from four to two, and the count of mischief from two to one. Publicover still faces a charge of public incitement of hatred but is no longer charged with resisting a peace officer or possession of a dangerous weapon.
The man is set to appear in court again next month. The incident involved a video circulating on social media showing a man at the Costco store targeting two women in hijabs, directing offensive language at them. Another woman intervened, prompting the man to make further derogatory remarks before the video abruptly ends.
Halifax Regional Police later arrested the suspect at a residence in Port Dufferin, N.S., after he reportedly brandished a weapon. The police used a stun gun to subdue and apprehend him.