RCMP have recommended assault charges against one of their own officers following the handling of a prisoner at the Port Alberni RCMP detachment.
RCMP Cpl. Colin Banks faces one count of assault and appeared in Port Alberni Provincial Court for a first appearance on May 1, and RCMP press release noted.
His next court appearance is on May 22.
The alleged incident occurred in the cell block of the Port Alberni Detachment on Nov. 8, 2013.
An RCMP Code of Conduct investigation into the incident is also underway.
Banks has been assigned to administrative duties.
Police wouldn’t provide any further detail, citing the legal action.
The Independent Investigations Office investigates on-and off-duty police-related incidents of death and serious harm.
While details of the Alberni incident are scant, an IIO official confirmed that their office is not involved in the matter.
This is the second incident involving RCMP’s handling of a prisoner in Alberni.
In February 2013, the IIO investigated an incident involving two Port Alberni police officers after a woman was injured during an arrest.
The IIO forwarded a report to Port Alberni Crown counsel but no charges were laid.
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