Kelowna RCMP Officer Faces Assault Charge Following Independent Investigations Office Probe

A Kelowna RCMP officer is now facing an assault charge in connection with an incident that occurred over three years ago. This significant legal development follows a thorough investigation by British Columbia's independent police watchdog.

Constable Brad Stafford has been formally charged with assault, as confirmed by the BC Prosecution Service.

The charge relates to an altercation that took place on April 1, 2020, between an officer and a member of the public in Kelowna.

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of B.C., which investigates incidents involving police that result in death or serious harm, launched an inquiry into the matter.

Following their comprehensive review, the IIO concluded in September 2020 that there were reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence may have been committed by an officer during the incident.

Subsequently, the IIO submitted its report to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges.

After careful review of the evidence and the IIO's findings, the Crown counsel approved the assault charge against Const. Stafford.

This case now moves into the formal court process, where the allegations will be heard and addressed. As the matter is now before the courts, further details regarding the incident and the evidence supporting the charge are expected to emerge during judicial proceedings.

Such charges underscore the critical oversight role of the IIO in ensuring police accountability and maintaining public trust in law enforcement agencies across the province.