Head of Northumberland outreach group charged with impersonating a first responder

Cobourg Police have charged a 28-year-old Port Hope man who allegedly impersonated a first responder during a medical emergency.

The accused is the Executive Director of outreach group Integrated Homelessness and Addictions Response Centre (IHARC).

In mid-May, the Cobourg Police Service Criminal Investigation Bureau opened an investigation after learning that a man, presenting as a first responder, had attended and entered a private residence without the homeowner’s permission while an individual inside was in medical distress.

The man allegedly provided medical assistance without consent before leaving the residence when paramedics arrived on scene.

It is believed the individual became aware of the emergency by monitoring first responder radio communications.

Police were able to identify the man through investigation and on Wednesday executed a search arrant at a residence in Port Hope.

Jordan Stevenson-Smith was arrested without incident and charged with:

Unlawfully in a dwelling house
Personating a Peace Officer

Stevenson-Smith was released with conditions and a future court date.

Thursday Stevenson-Smith issued a statement via social media saying that, effective immediately, all IHARC services are suspended until further notice.

He says Cobourg Police seized essential IHARC equipment, including phones, laptops, tablets, and body cameras.

He adds he is limiting public comment under the advisement of his legal counsel but did say that he became aware of a nearby emergency involving a person reportedly without vital signs and attended to help until emergency services arrived but at all times, identified himself as an outreach worker.

Read Stevenson-Smith’s entire statement below:

𝗜𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱

Effective immediately, all IHARC services are temporarily suspended until further notice.

This follows a serious incident involving Cobourg Police, during which essential IHARC equipment was seized, including phones, laptops, tablets, and body cameras.

The situation began during a medical emergency in Cobourg. I became aware of a nearby emergency involving a person reportedly without vital signs and attended to help until emergency services arrived.

At all times, I identified myself as an outreach worker.

IHARC is not a police service. IHARC is not security. IHARC does not enforce laws, investigate people, compel people, or represent itself as law enforcement.

Our public materials, our outreach model, and our day-to-day work have always been clear on this point.

IHARC exists because people in crisis often need practical, non-police support. That distinction matters deeply to the people we serve.

Because this matter is now before the legal system, I have been advised to limit public comment. Legal counsel is involved, and IHARC will respond through the proper process.

The immediate impact is significant.

The seizure of IHARC’s operational equipment has directly affected our ability to respond to people who rely on us, including people experiencing homelessness, addiction, crisis, isolation, and system failure.

We know this suspension will affect people who already have very few places to turn. That is not something we take lightly.

We will provide further updates as soon as we are able to do so responsibly.

For now, IHARC services are suspended until further notice.

– – –

Jordan Stevenson

Executive Director