Two veteran Brandon police officers have been charged in connection with an assault at a bar in the Wheat City.
The charges stem from an incident in November 2014 when a person filed a complaint alleging they were assaulted by a Brandon police officer at a local bar.
The Winnipeg Police Service began investigating in January 2015, on request of provincial justice officials. A year later, its findings were submitted to prosecutors, and criminal charges were authorized against two Brandon police officers on July 11.
Sgt. Dallas Lockhart, a 20-year member of the Brandon Police Service, was charged with one count of attempt to obstruct justice and one count of obstructing a police officer.
Another 20-year member of the service, Const. Shane Stephenson, faces one count of obstruction of justice.
"These are serious charges and they don't happen very often," said Dep. Chief Danny Smyth of the Winnipeg Police Service.
Winnipeg police said Friday the charges stem from two incidents. In November 2014, police say Lockhart was off-duty and intervened in a matter between uniform Brandon officers and two people. Stephenson was one of the responding members.
In July 2015, Winnipeg police said Stephenson botched an investigation involving one of the individuals in the previous incident.
"In a general way, he didn't do a very good job in the investigation. Hence the charges that came out of that," said Smyth.
The officers have been released and scheduled to appear in court. They have been placed on administrative leave with pay.
The Brandon Police Service released a statement responding to the charges:
“The Brandon Police Service takes allegations of this nature very seriously. The public can be assured that the Brandon Police Service has taken and will continue to take the necessary steps to maintain confidence in the Police Service.”
They also said that since this matter is now heading to court, they will be releasing no further comment.
