Witness Testimony

Natasha Petite testified that she developed PTSD and physical disabilities following a serious motor vehicle accident in 2018, which left her unable to tolerate facial coverings due to panic and breathing restriction. Although she previously worked in oil and gas environments requiring respirators and later served as a corrections officer, she stated that her accident resulted in trauma-related breathing distress that prevented her from wearing masks. She confirmed she possessed a medical exemption during masking mandates.
On December 24, 2021, while shopping at a Walmart in Nova Scotia, she testified that store management demanded she wear a mask or provide medical documentation. She refused to disclose her exemption letter, stating it was private medical information. Police were called, and after repeated demands to mask or leave, she stated that three officers physically restrained her. She testified that she was forced to the ground, placed in what she described as an illegal choke hold, experienced breathing restriction and panic, and sustained bruising and jaw injury. She further alleged verbal abuse by one officer and that she had informed officers of her physical and mental disabilities before being taken down.
Petite testified that she was transported to the police station, held briefly, and released without charges. She described the experience as humiliating and traumatic, stating that bystanders watched without intervening. She also recounted a conversation with an officer who told her that people like her were responsible for others dying. She concluded that the incident destroyed her long-held career aspirations in law enforcement and significantly impacted her mental health and trust in public institutions.