Special prosecutor appointed following arrest of B.C. MLA Pat Pimm

A special prosecutor has been appointed following the arrest of B.C.MLA Pat Pimm.

Pimm, who was the B.C. Liberal MLA for Peace River North beforeleaving his party's caucus, wasarrested for an alleged offence that has yet to be revealed.

Michael Klein, a Vancouver lawyer in private practice, has been appointed as special prosecutor.

He was selected by the assistant deputy attorney general to oversee the matter due to Pimm's position as an MLA, and "is intended to avoid any potential for real or perceived improper influence in the administration of criminal justice."

The date of the arrest and theexact nature of the allegations have not been made public.

"I want to inform my constituents that allegations have been brought against me which require me to obtain legal counsel," Pimmsaid in a statement on August 15, when he announced he was leaving his party's caucus.

"While this matter is being resolved, I have stepped away from the Government Caucus and my role as Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole of the Legislature."

Pimm, who announced last year he would not be seeking re-election in the 2017 provincial election, says he will continue to serve in the legislature as an independent MLA.

He was first elected in 2009 and appointed agriculture ministerin 2013, before leaving cabinet last year to seek treatment for colon cancer.

He was arrested in connection with a domestic incident involvinghis wife in 2011 and returned to the Liberal caucus after a specialprosecutor decided no charges would be laid.

With files from The Canadian Press