Police officers to face disciplinary hearing over Cuban sex-assault allegations

A police watchdog investigationinto two Vancouver-area officers acquitted in thealleged sexualassaulta 17-year-old Ontario girlwhile theywere on vacation inCubahasdetermined there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a disciplinary hearing.

Following a nine-month RCMP investigation in B.C.into alleged discreditable conduct, the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner says enough evidence againstVancouver police Const. Mark Simms, 29, and Port Moody policeConst. Jordan Long, 31, has been found to warrant thehearing.

Simms and Long returned to Canada after nearly a year-long detention in Cuba while authorities there deliberated over theallegations in court.

The pair were acquittedof the charges bycourtofficials in that country in November 2018, but were subject to an internal investigation following their return to Canadain January this year.

In a written statement Wednesday, the OPCC said ifmisconduct is proven to have occurred, "a range of disciplinary or corrective measures up to and including dismissal" may be imposed.

A spokesperson for the officers' families issued a brief statement, saying: "We will proceed as necessary and continue to pursue justice" for the men.

Simmsand Long were arrested after the17-year-oldreported she had been sexually assaulted sometime in early 2018.

Few details of the incident have been released,but inApril 2018, Mike Clay, mayor of Port Moody at the time, said Simms was accused of the sexual assaultwhile Long was being held as a material witness.

Both men and their families have maintained the pair are innocent.

The 17-year-old, who can't be identified under laws protecting underage individuals, returned to Canada shortly after the alleged incident.

The OPCC has the power to call witnesses, which could include the 17-year-oldalleged victim.

There is still no word on when the hearing will take place.