P.E.I. man pleads guilty to charges of failing to self-isolate

A P.E.I. man has pleaded guilty to two charges ofcausing a public nuisance by failing to self-isolate, relating to COVID-19.

JavanMizero Nsangira, 22, has been held in jail for the past seven weeks on these charges, along with charges of assault anduttering threats.

According to facts read out in P.E.I. Supreme Court Tuesday afternoon and agreed to by Nsangira Nsangiradrove to Halifax to pick up an international student who had travelled from outside the country in late June. Thestudent was refused entry to P.E.I. because he didn't have the necessary paperwork and ended up testing positive for COVID-19.

Nsangira returned to the Island and also tested positive for COVID-19, along with three of his close contacts, including one who worked at a Charlottetown senior's care home, Whisperwood Villa.

That led to widespread testing of 129 residents and 140 staff members at Whisperwood tests that all came back negative.

Police got involved on July 15 when they found Nsangira on a city street at 2 a.m. by a car parked on the wrong side of the road with its dome light andfour-way flashers on. He was the registered owner of the vehicle.

During their conversation, Nsangiratold police he had tested positive for COVID-19 and they discovered he was supposed to be self-isolating at his home, which was nearby.

According to police Nsangira did not attempt to warn or distance himself from the officers.

He was told to go home and self-isolate but was not arrested or charged.Both officers had to get tested twice and self-isolate for 14 days as a result.

Police respond to 911 call

Three hours laterpolice got a 911 call to Nsangira's home in Charlottetown. His girlfriend told police he was trying tohurt her. She told them it was out of character for him and that his mental state had been "oddrecently and he had not acted like this before."

Police arrested him for assaulting her, kicking open her bedroom door and threatening to hurt her according to the agreed statement. He was also charged for not self isolating.Nsangirawas released from custody, but since he could not go homeand did not have another residence where he could self-isolate, police arranged through public health officials for him to stay at the Brudenell Resort, which the provincial government was using for essential workers who didn't have a place to quarantine.

Nsangira was retested before he went to Brudenell and again tested positivefor COVID.

At Brudenell, he was confined to his room, attended to by a public health nurse and meals were brought to him daily.

Mental stress

On July 17, the nurse and security discovered he had left his room and was walkingaroundthe grounds. They tried to convince him to return to his room, because he needed to self-isolate andthe golf course there was open and other people were present.

He told the nurse he was under mental stress by self-isolating and said "it would drive him crazy and that depression would kill him before COVID would," according to the facts read out in court Tuesday.

He refused to return to his room, but agreed he wouldlisten to the police. The nurse told him to stay where he was until police arrived. But within five minutes he was walking around the grounds again.

When RCMP arrived, the officer responded alone, and wore personal protective equipment, to limit the risk of exposure to COVID.

When Nsangira refused to return to his room, the officer arrested him.

Nsangira was escorted to the hospital in Montague where he was again tested for COVID again he tested positive.

From there he was taken to the provincial correctional centre.

Nsangira is from Congo and is attending UPEI on a student visa.

Released on conditions

Justice Tracey Clements agreed to release Nsangira Tuesday with conditions, until he's sentenced. Those conditions include staying on P.E.I., reporting to probation, and participating in the preparation of a pre-sentence report. He also is required tostay with a family member, who lives near UPEI, and answer the door if police come to check on him. Hehas to attend classes and follow up with a mental health professional.

If he doesn't follow the conditions, Nsangira will be taken into custody again.

Nsangira tried to explain his mental health issues in court. Clements said he'd have a chance to speak at his sentencing hearing.The defence asked for a mental health assessment and a pre-sentence report.

Dozens of supporters protested outside the courthouse while Nsangira's case was being heard inside. They feel he is being treated unfairly by the justice system and the media because he's Black.

They also demonstrated at a court appearance last week.

Nsangira left the courthouse. He declined a media request for comment.

He'll be back in court Jan. 19 to be sentenced.

He still faces charges of assault and uttering threats related to incidents in July. They'll be heard inprovincial court, Thursday.

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