By Charles Lefebvre

RCMP officer in Slave Lake charged with assault following ASIRT investigation

Jun 10, 2019 | 11:52 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — A RCMP officer in Slave Lake has been charged with assault following an investigation from the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.

Constable Licio Soares was charged with one count of assault on Thursday. ASIRT announced the charge on Monday.

The charge stems from an incident that allegedly occurred on September 19, 2017. According to a release from ASIRT, Soares arrested an intoxicated man for mischief and transported him to the Slave Lake detachment. While he was booking the man, the man allegedly removed an outer shirt and threw it underhand at Soares who caught it in his hand. A video of the incident allegedly shows Soares taking the man to the ground, punching him repeatedly in the head, kneeing him repeatedly in the back and pushing his head into the floor.

The man did not suffer any significant injuries. While he was being prosecuted, the use of force was first raised, and the video was disclosed. ASIRT was directed to investigate on December 12, 2017.

Charges against the 30-year-old man were ultimately withdrawn, according to ASIRT.

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Soares was released on a promise to appear, and makes his next court appearance on the assault charge on July 10 in Slave Lake Provincial Court.