Abbotsford police officer under investigation for alleged theft

TheAbbotsford Police Department says one of its officers is being investigated by the RCMPfor allegedly stealing money from a suspect's home while conducting a search.

The department says the incident happened last November while drug enforcement officers were executing search warrants at a residence in Abbotsford for a drug trafficking investigation.

Officers found cash, weapons, drugsand drug trafficking paraphernalia in the home of Brian MacDonald, 53,who is on trial this week on eight counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

• Abbotsford police arrest high-level drug traffickers, seize 'significant' amount of drugs

During the trial, clips from surveillance video in the home showed images of the police officer whichraised concerns abouttheft, according to the department.

In court, the officer denied the allegations, testifying that he had placed the money in his sock as part of a practical joke, then put the money back.

Abbotsford police officer under investigation for alleged theft

6 years ago

Duration 0:45

A hidden camera captured the moment an Abbotsford police officer says he took money from a suspects home and placed it in his sock as part of a joke, while carrying out a search warrant.

The Abbotsford Police Department says it has asked the RCMP to investigate the officer's conduct and determine if a criminal offence took place.

"We don't know what the actual full story of this incident is. You know there's an allegation of theft. However, there's also the indication that this is a prank. Either way they will have to be addressed, but we just would like this investigation to be put forward so we can find out exactly what happened," said Judy Bird, public information officer for the Abbotsford Police Department.

Bird says the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner has been made aware of the case, so a public trust investigation can take place.

The department says the officer has been placed on administrative duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

Meanwhile, MacDonald's lawyer says his client will now be requesting a stay of proceedings on his possession for the purpose of trafficking charges when his trial resumes on Monday.

Update: On Friday June 8, the judge in the case rejected MacDonald's bid to have the trafficking charges against MacDonald dropped due to the officer's actions. Defence lawyer Ken Beatch says the judge found "on the evidence, it was just one rogue cop, and that she might well have ruled differently, if she found that more than one officer was involved."

With files from Eric Rankin.