Serious injuries to handcuffed suspect in 2015 prompt charge against Calgary police officer

A Calgary police officer has been charged with aggravated assault, more than 1years after a suspect wasthrown to the ground while in handcuffs resulting in serious head injuries, police told reporters Friday afternoon.

The incident in question began in May 2015 with police responding to the 700 block of NinthStreet S.W. forreports of a man breaking into his ex-girlfriend's home and stealing property,Insp. Ryan Ayliffe said.

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Thesuspect was arrested and transported to the court services building, he said.

While he was being removed from the police car, an altercation occurred and he was thrown to the ground while in handcuffs. The man suffered head injuries that required a hospital stay.

Ayliffe said that suspect has since diedfrom an unrelated incident.

Officer on administrative leave

The incident was caught on several closed-circuit cameras.

"In this incident, I am not sure what happened. I haven't seen any of this video.I am just here today to make sure that we are giving you some insight into what happened,"Ayliffe said.

A report was completed byAlberta Serious Incident Response Team in May 2016 but only forwarded to the Edmonton investigators in September.

The Calgary officer is currently on administrative leave, which will be periodically evaluated until he appears in court. Ayliffe could not say when that court date will occur.

Calgary police have decided not to name the officer.

'It affects morale'

It has been a rough few months for the Calgary police after a damning 2013 workplace review surfaced in October that found a culture ofbullying, harassment, intimidation and retaliation.

The inspector said cases like this officer being charged affect the mood of officers.

"It affects morale. Our officers don't want to be perceived in certain ways,"Ayliffe said.

"None of us want to be involved in something that causes injury or harm to a member of the public."

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