N.L. police watchdog says not enough evidence against officer accused of sex assault
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary should have more thoroughly investigated one of its officers accused of inappropriate sexual conduct, according to a report released Thursday by the province's police oversight agency.
The officer, now retired, was the subject of several allegations -- including sexual misconduct and harassment -- that were investigated by the police force, Michael King, the civilian director of the province's Serious Incident Response Team, said in his report.
"If the allegations are true, it is clear that (the retired officer) has displayed a disturbing pattern of using his position to solicit sexual favour from women in the St. John's area -- most commonly in the downtown vicinity," King wrote.
King's agency, known as SIRT-NL, investigates incidents involving death, serious injury, sexual offence, domestic violence or any matter of significant public interest that may have arisen from the actions of a police officer.
One of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary probes into the officer was connected to a February 2017 incident in which the officer was accused of sexually assaulting a woman whom he drove home from downtown St. John's. The police force, King wrote, reached an "informal resolution" with the officer in which he would resign. King said the force then closed the file and took no further action.
"In my opinion, the RNC should have investigated this incident more thoroughly when it first came to light years ago," King wrote, adding that the incident involved a potentially criminal offence.
He said, however, that there isn't enough evidence to launch another investigation against the officer.
"It presents a significant obstacle for an investigative agency when an investigation takes place years after the fact."
King says a woman alleged that the officer offered her a ride home from a night out in downtown St. John's, N.L. and then made comments about her looks and marital status. He says he parked his car in front of her home and then tried to put his tongue in her mouth as they kissed and tried to put his hand up her skirt.
King says that his investigators were unable to contact the woman, who now lives in the United States, and that a lawyer eventually contacted them to say she did not want to pursue a criminal investigation.
"Simply put, without her (the complainant's) participation in the investigation, we were unable to substantiate laying a charge in relation to that incident," King said.
Despite the investigative roadblock, he said the file remains open.
King said his investigation was prompted by media reports last year that several women had alleged they had been sexually assaulted by Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers. The force's chief, now retired, said he was aware of allegations against at least one officer, King said.
King said he then asked the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary to provide him with everything they had in connection with these allegations.
The RNC said in an emailed statement on Thursday, "We will provide an update once we have had the opportunity to review the report."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
NEW Iconic Canadian song turns 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Prince Harry, Meghan arrive in Nigeria to champion the Invictus Games and meet with wounded soldiers
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived in Nigeria on Friday to champion the Invictus Games, which he founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans, among them Nigerian soldiers fighting a 14-year war against Islamic extremists.
Countries struggle to draft 'pandemic treaty' to avoid mistakes made during COVID
After the coronavirus pandemic triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed millions, leaders at the World Health Organization and worldwide vowed to do better in the future. Years later, countries are still struggling to come up with an agreed-upon plan for how the world might respond to the next global outbreak.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.