Restraining order taken out against Calgary police officer now charged with assault

Cst. James Othen, who was charged on Wednesday with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm, had been suspended by the Calgary Police Service for allegedly stalking his ex-girlfriend, according to court documents.

His ex-girlfriend, who is also a Calgarypolice officer, filed her first request for an emergency protection order similar to a restraining order In January 2015. Ithas been renewed several times over the last 22 months.

The relationship began in 2014 and was on-again, off-again until the woman found out he was still married and broke off their relationship for a final time. It was after that, she says in the documents, when he became aggressive in his efforts to communicate with her, and then began to stalk her and threaten her.

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Othen was suspended as of August 2015, according to her affidavits. The Calgary Police Service (CPS) has not yet confirmed that information.

Earlier on Monday, charges were laid against three officers, including Othen who are accused of badly injuring a man they were arresting, turning off the cruiser's dash cam video and lying in their notes about the circumstances of the arrest.

Calgary police knew about Othen's behaviour and he was told several times by his superiors to leave the woman alone, said the complainant.

Othen posted a photo of her in lingerie to social media. He also called and texted her repeatedly, according to the documents. Sometimes she says she received in excess of 40 phone calls per day.

Photos among the exhibits

The woman is from a small town in another province and Othen travelled to that town for no apparent reason and took photos of landmarks in her small hometown, including one across from her family's home, posting them to social media.

The photos are attached to the court documents as exhibits.

She also alleges he made efforts to get close to her family members and threatened to send her intimate photos to her friends, family and coworkers. He added members of her family and friends to his Twitter account. The complainant says he would often change his name on social media in an effort to add her as a friend without her knowing who was behind the account.

Othen also accessed personal information through CPS and knew when she would be taking leave, she alleges in her affidavit.

The woman alleges Othen would swing in oneday from threatening her to asking her to marry him.

'Human resource issues': Chief

She eventually sought advice from CPS's domestic conflict unit who advised her to file for an emergency protection order.

No criminal charges were ever laid in connection to the alleged stalking and harassment, but several judges renewed the woman's requests for extended restraining orders.

In November 2015, the woman alleges Othen was under internal investigation after calling CPS dispatch pretending to be someone else and asking for her schedule.

Calgary Police Chief Roger Chaffin did not deny he knew of Othen's history.

"I have some... understanding of long term history with people but I think generally speaking what we wouldn't do in a public event is talk about what are arguably human resource issues," said Chaffin.

CBC News has asked the Calgary Police Service if members were aware of the emergency protection order but the organization has not yet responded.