Nanaimo man tries to rebuild after destructive behaviour triggers ERT response

While on the run from Nanaimo RCMP, Mounties were informed Matsen was at his upper-floor suite on Jingle Pot Rd. at Avonlea Dr. on Feb. 2, 2025.

A heavy police presence followed, including armed officers and members of the Emergency Response Team, which restricted public access in the area for several hours.

Text exchanges were made between a specialized RCMP crisis negotiator and Matsen.

“The accused made it clear that he wanted police to kill him…as he would not make it out of the house standing up,” Furmaniuk relayed.

Matsen declared police would have to shoot him and his dog.

Following an extended standoff, the offender was eventually arrested and committed to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, where Matsen sustained an apparent seizure and was confrontational toward staff.

No injuries or property damage were associated with the north Jingle Pot area incident.

Furmaniuk suggested a two-year jail sentence for Matsen, which would leave him roughly 79 further days behind bars.

Matsen has a sporadic and dated criminal record, court was told, including convictions for multiple violent crimes.

Most notably, at just 13-years-old, Matsen was convicted of manslaughter in 1999.

Recent pre-sentence and psychiatric evaluations shed light on Matsen’s offending and troubled past.

He was raised in the presence of alcohol and emotional abuse, bouncing around to several foster home environments.

Evidence suggested he was sexually abused by a relative, court was told.

The offender has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, major depressive disorder, and stimulant/opioid use disorders, among numerous diagnoses.

Defence attorney Michael Ritzker referenced an expert opinion stating Matsen can be safely rehabilitated with inpatient substance abuse treatment.

“It’s no surprise that a human being such as Mr. Matsen would have difficulty later on in life given what he experienced as a youngster, having been rejected by his father, nevermind having a lousy father or an absent father, he was rejected,” Ritzker told court.

The veteran defence attorney pointed to several programs Matsen has completed while incarcerated at Nanaimo Correctional Centre (NCC), including the highly regarded Guthrie Therapeutic Community offering.

Ritzker requested Matsen be released from custody to allow him to embark on community-based rehabilitation efforts.

He said Matsen had a severe opioid addiction for managing pain after his prescriptions expired.

“His most troublesome convictions are ancient, but the demons aren’t ancient, the demons stay with him and he’s fighting them, and he’s shown that he can beat them,” Ritzker said.

Matsen addressed the court, stating his conduct “troubles me every day” and that he’s trying to work through his trauma.

“I have a lot of regret about how everything played out and worked really hard at trying to address my issues and my trauma and tried to build a lot of tools for myself to deal with any future issues,” Matsen said.

Provincial Court Judge Karen Whonnock settled on 22-month jail sentence after Matsen pleaded guilty to four assault and uttering threat-related charges.

With credit for time already served, Matsen had 25 additional days behind bars at NCC as of the Friday sentencing hearing.

He was also issued two years’ probation with numerous conditions, with the first year under house arrest between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., while no contact orders and a lifetime weapons ban also apply.

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by Ian Holmes

Nanaimo man tries to rebuild after destructive behaviour triggers ERT response

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