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RCMP officer to stand trial in May

A Red Deer RCMP officer charged with assault will go to trial in May.

A Red Deer RCMP officer charged with assault will go to trial in May.

Three days have been set aside for the trial, which will take place May 10 to May 12 and employ an out-of-town prosecutor, said defence lawyer Will Willms in Red Deer provincial court Tuesday.

Darren Ryan has been charged in connection with a March 26 incident outside a Red Deer nightclub.

RCMP allege two men were having a heated discussion about 2:30 a.m. when an 18-year-old woman came between them. She was allegedly thrown to the ground by a man later identified by investigators as a local off-duty police constable.

The woman did not need hospital treatment.

The constable was put on administrative duties for a few weeks while an investigation was underway. He was later returned to general assignment duty. Ryan was not in court Tuesday.

His lawyer said a preliminary inquiry would not be required.

Provincial court Judge David Plosz questioned whether that meant there was a chance the trial could be shortened.

“I don’t see that happening from my review of the disclosure, sir,” said Willms.