A former transit police officer has been charged with assault after an investigation of an incident in New Westminster that occurred last September.
Brian Lawson, who was an off-duty officer with the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service at the time of the incident, has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and assaulting a police officer, according to a press release from the New Westminster Police Department.
On Sept. 12, New Westminster police responded to reports of a fight outside a bar in the 500-block of Seventh Street, the release stated. Though no one was observed fighting when the police arrived, Lawson was taken into custody.
Lawson went on sick leave in June, according to Anne Drennan, spokesperson with the Transit Police.
As of September, he was on income continuance, which was funded by his union, COPE 378, she said.
"When this incident in New Westminster occurred, he was on income continuance and was not being paid by the Transit Police," Drennan said.
In early November, Lawson asked for an unpaid leave of absence to go to Ireland for a family matter, she said, and the leave was granted with the stipulation that he comply with any aspect of the investigation.
He resigned from his position on Jan. 25, she added.
Lawson's first court appearance is set for Mar. 6 at New Westminster provincial court.
