(Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

LPS officer charged with assault

Aug 23, 2020 | 4:07 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – An officer in the Lethbridge Police Service has been charged with assault for an incident involving a prisoner earlier this year.

LPS says the constable has been relieved from duty without pay, pending the outcome of the matter in court.

The assault charge comes from an incident in the LPS Short Term Holding Facility on February 9, involving the officer in question and a male prisoner inside a cell.

LPS says the prisoner did not sustain any injuries as a result of the altercation.

Following an internal complaint, a section 46.1 notification under the Police Act was made to the Director of Law Enforcement.

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The matter was deemed in-scope and the LPS Professional Standards Unit was directed to conduct the investigation, not the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT).

The completed investigation was subsequently forwarded to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service for review and a charge of assault was recommended.

In a release, acting LPS chief Scott Woods stated, “in this case I believe exceptional circumstances exist that warrant the relief of duty without pay for the good of the Police Service and to uphold the public expectation that police officers be held to the highest standards.”

Woods’ decision to relieve the officer from duty without pay must be reviewed by the Police Commission within 30 days. The Lethbridge Police Commission has been advised and asked to review and confirm the chief’s decision.

As a result of this incident, David Easter is charged with one count of assault. Easter was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court in Lethbridge on November 4.

LPS stated that as the matter is now before the court, they will not provide further comment.