'Such a scary set of eyes': Keremeos man found not criminally responsible after terrifying sledgehammer rampage

Photo: Facebook/Cameron Urquhart

A Keremeos man who terrorized and assaulted multiple employees at the Village Hall has been declared not criminally responsible for his actions.

In Penticton Friday, provincial court heard the chilling details of 41-year-old Cameron Urquhart's attack, with Urquhart in attendance via video from custody.

On January 24, 2022 just before 11 a.m., Urquhart stormed into the village office on 4th Street wielding a sledgehammer, screaming at everyone to "Get the f*** out of here, I'll kill you all," and smashing items, furniture, and plexiglass shields.

At one point the head of the sledgehammer broke off, leaving a jagged edge he continued to use to threaten those in the building.

Witnesses reported Urquhart "vibrating," swinging the weapon around wildly, and chasing employees out of the office to the parking lot, many trying to flee to their vehicles. One woman was struck from behind and slipped on the ice, and Urquhart began kicking her on the ground, leading to whiplash, cuts, sore ribs and other trauma.

Employees across the lot yelled at Urquhart to distract him, allowing the woman to get away and hide behind a moving truck.

"I've never seen such a scary set of eyes, like he wanted to hurt me, and then he did," that woman said during her witness testimony.

Several others tried to get into a vehicle to escape, and Urquhart slashed the air out of the tires, saying they were "walking not driving."

Other witnesses reported hearing him saying "the mayor is fired," searching the rooms of the Village Hall and continuing to assault employees.

One woman reported Urquhart grabbed her and gave her a shove, and she ran away, calling 911 as she fled.

When Urquhart saw her on her phone, he hit her in the face and took her phone, saying she had not followed his instructions.

Throughout the attack, Urquhart was wearing padded gear, metal cleats, and witnesses reported a knife strapped to his chest.

He reportedly claimed he was "appointed by NATO and the UN to take over the village," and "It’s your government money, paid to kill my friends and I, I don’t give a f*** I’m sick of it."

When police arrived, he punched an RCMP officer through the window of the vehicle. He was pepper sprayed, said he was "immune to that sh*t," then continued on a loud tirade as more police were finally able to subdue him.

The details of a psychological report ordered on Urquhart are protected by a publication ban, except for the fact that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and is "doing well" in treatment, according to a decision made by Judge Gregory Koturbash Friday.

Urquhart was then found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder, and a disposition hearing has been referred to the B.C. Review Board.

He will remain under his current detention order in a psychiatric hospital until the review board makes a further decision.