For the second time in two days, RCMP have announced that a Red Deer city Mountie is heading to court on assault charges.
On Tuesday, RCMP from K Division provincial headquarters report a city constable has been charged in connection with a fight outside an unidentified Red Deer night club on March 26.
On Monday, K Division issued a news release to say an RCMP corporal/dog handler was facing one count of assault from last August.
Supt. Brian Simpson said the public should not be alarmed.
“We’ve got good officers and they are working in stressful situations,” said Simpson on Tuesday. “They’re probably under more scrutiny than anyone else and have to accountable to the public and we can appreciate that.”
Simpson said both officers are continuing to work on city streets, but will face both the court system and an internal discipline process.
In the most recent incident, police allege two men were standing outside the bar, having a “heated discussion,” when an 18-year-old woman got in between the two men. One of the men is accused of throwing the woman to the ground.
The man then left the area without further incident.
The incident happened around 2:30 a.m.
Investigators determined the man was an off-duty constable posted with the city detachment.
Police have charged Darren Ryan, 28, of Red Deer with one count of assault. He is to appear in Red Deer provincial court on July 14.
RCMP K Division spokesman Cpl. Wayne Oakes said he doesn’t believe Ryan was known to the man or woman prior to that evening.
“To my knowledge (regarding the woman), there was no requirement for hospital treatment,” Oakes said.
Oakes said that Ryan has been an RCMP for 10 months and Red Deer is his first posting.
RCMP conducted the investigation, which is then reviewed by a special prosecutor.
From the time the investigation started on March 26 until May 1, Ryan was placed on administrative duties.
Since that time, he has been put back on general assignment duties, Oakes said.
The decision to place Ryan back on city streets is due to various factors, he added.
“It’s based on the direction of what the unit commander decides, in co-operation with senior management,” Oakes said.
Cpl. Francois Paquin, 46, a 21-year veteran, is alleged to have struck a man in the face on Aug. 31, 2008. On Tuesday, a trial date was set for March 1, 2010, in Red Deer provincial court.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com