Man accused in Pond Inlet shooting appears in Iqaluit courtroom

Jaime Ootoovak, 27, is accuse in a shooting incident that occurred June 6 in Pond Inlet. (FILE PHOTO)

A man charged in connection with an early morning shooting incident in Pond Inlet June 6 made his first appearance in court June 14 at the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit.

Jaime Ootoovak, 27, faces a number of charges relating to the incident, including two counts of discharging a firearm, careless use of a firearm, assault and possessing a firearm while prohibited.

Ootoovak appeared before Justice Paul Bychok through a videolink from the Baffin Correctional Centre, where he has been remanded.

Crown lawyers told Bychok that police are still collecting evidence related to Ootoovak’s charges and they asked for more time to allow investigators to complete their work.

“Substantive disclosure will not be ready for some time. This has become a [Major Crimes Unit] file… The lead investigator won’t be in a position to provide anybody with anything before such time,” said Crown lawyer Caroline Lirette, who suggested a date of Aug. 23.

Bychok ordered a check-in date of July 19 to evaluate the status of the police investigation.

“I think it would be useful to look in on July 19 to see what progress the police are making in terms of completing their investigation and disclosing their case to the defense as, of course, they are required to by law,” he said.

Ootoovak, who sported a shaved head and wore a blue prison t-shirt, nodded to Bychok, confirming that he understood the proceedings.

Police arrested Ootoovak after responding to a report of shots being fired at approximately 3:30 a.m. outside the 1100 block in Pond Inlet June 6.

Police discovered bullet holes in a nearby vehicle, as well as in the window of a nearby residence where the vehicle was parked.

RCMP members arrested and charged Ootoovak June 10.

He faces eight charges, including:

• two counts of discharging a firearm;

• one count of possession of a firearm while prohibited;

• one count of failure to comply with probation order;

• two counts of careless use of a firearm;

• one count of pointing a firearm; and,

• one count of assault.