ASIRT charges RCMP officer accused of breaking into women's Banff hotel room

An off-duty RCMP officer accused of breaking into a Banff hotel room occupied bytwo womenhas been charged with breaking and entering.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) announced the charge against Const. Garret Claxton on Wednesday.

According to ASIRT, the incident took place in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, 2022.

Claxton had been socializing with the women earlier in the night.

"The evidence gathered during ASIRT's investigation provided reasonable grounds to believe that an offence had been committed," the agency said in a news release.

The results of the ASIRT investigation were forwarded to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service,which then determined the evidence met its standard for prosecution.

He is set to make a court appearance in Canmore later this month.

Claxton serveswith the RCMP in its Banff detachment.

CBC News has asked RCMP for an update on Claxton's employment status.

ASIRT, the province's police watchdog,investigates serious allegations of officer misconduct,and whendeath or injurymay have been caused by police.