A transit police officer is facing assault charges following an independent investigation by New Westminster police.
The charges stem from an incident in August 2011 between two Transit officers and an unknown man at Rupert Street SkyTrain station. An altercation ensued, and Transit Police made a request that the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner - B.C.'s police watch dog - investigate the matter, according to a media release from Transit Police.
Tasked by the complaints commissioner to investigate the incident, the New Westminster Police Department conducted an investigation and submitted a report to Crown counsel.
Earlier this week the department announced Crown counsel had approved charges against the two Transit officers involved in the incident.
Const. Edgardo Diaz and former constable Michael Hughes have both been charged with assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon. Diaz continues to work for Transit Police in an administrative capacity while Hughes left the police department in 2012. Both will make a first appearance on Feb. 12 in Vancouver provincial court.
