Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the “Titanic” movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
According to a police report obtained by a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy request, a lobster chowder consumed by roughly 80 crew members of the “Titanic” – including director James Cameron – contained PCP and sent many of them to hospital in August 1996.
"Some people were laughing, some people were crying, some people were throwing up," actor Bill Paxton told Entertainment Weekly at the time.
The police report says there is a “good probability” the culprit behind the drugging is no longer in the country.
“One must also consider the fact that PCP is not common in our area but is very common in the Hollywood area,” the report reads. “One must also consider that despite a wonderful movie, there is plenty of information on record that things were anything but smooth on set.
“The offence is such that unless the responsible party admits the act, then there is no evidence to this date that would independently convict them.”
The report notes police were initially dispatched to the Dartmouth General Hospital after receiving word a large number of the crew was making complaints of food poisoning. Police learned the crew had a lunch break that afternoon involving mostly catered seafood and many of them soon complained of “light headness, upset stomach, and so on.”
“One rumor is that the movie was over budget (a well known fact) and that the incident may have provided a reason to continue shooting for an additional week with the funding coming from an insurance claim,” the report reads. “At this time none of this can be substantiated as face (sic) and certainly nothing is suggested by the writer that the incident was staged as a method to increase funding for the film.”
This report comes after the Nova Scotia information and privacy commissioner told police to disclose more information about the 1996 incident.
"The only information that I could provide is that we investigated an incident in 1996 and the file was closed without charges," said Cst. John MacLeod with Halifax police when asked about the report.
-With files from CTV News' Daniel Otis
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE UPDATES Critical infrastructure 'successfully protected': Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials in an update said all critical infrastructure in the townsite has been 'successfully protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant.'
Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
U.S. authorities have arrested 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.