An RCMP officer in Prince George, B.C., has been charged with a second violent offence.
Const. Paul Ste-Marie was charged Monday with assault stemming from an arrest on Aug. 22, 2022, the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced Tuesday.
Ste-Marie is scheduled to appear in Prince George Provincial Court on Oct. 4.
No further details about the year-old arrest and alleged crime were provided by the BCPS.
Meanwhile, Ste-Marie is also charged in connection to the July 2017 death of Dale Culver, a man from Gitxsan and Wet’suwe’ten Nations in northern B.C.
Read more: Dale Culver’s family looking for answers in wake of his death
Culver died after being arrested when police were called about a man allegedly casing vehicles.
The BC Independent Investigations Office, which reviews police-involved deaths, said the 35-year-old was pepper-sprayed during a struggle, had trouble breathing and died in custody.
Constables Paul Ste-Marie and Jean Monette were charged with manslaughter, while Sgt. Jon Eusebio Cruz and constables Arthur Dalman and Clarence MacDonald were accused of attempting to obstruct justice, the BC Prosecution Service said.
When APTN News asked the RCMP whether Ste-Marie was still on active duty, spokesman Kris Clark said the officer is on administrative duties.
“His duty status is subject to continuous review and assessment,” said Clark, in an email. “A Code of Conduct investigation is also underway.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Aug. 23 to add comment from RCMP Media Relations in B.C.
