N.B. RCMP officer charged with aggravated assault

Cpl. Andrew Whiteway, a New Brunswick RCMP officer, has beencharged with aggravated assault following an investigation into an arrest in June.

The Serious Incident Response Team, known as SIRT, which is responsible for investigating police-related violence, death and sexual assault in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, announced the charge in a news release Monday.

Whiteway is charged with aggravated assault for allegedly striking a woman in the faceduring an arrest in Richmond Corner, near Woodstock,on June 13, 2024, the release said.

He's scheduled toappear in provincial court in Woodstock on Oct. 2.

Erin Nauss, a spokesperson for SIRT, said police were called to a family disturbance in Richmond Corner and an individualsustained "serious injury." Naussdeclined toprovide more details as the case is now before the court.

Nauss did confirm there were other officers on scene when the alleged assault took place.

Her team was contacted by the RCMP on the day of the incident to investigate, she said.

RCMPspokespersonCpl. Hans Ouellettesaid in an email that Whitewayhas been temporarily reassigned to administrative dutiesin accordance with the RCMPAct.

The police force's professionalstandards unit is also conducting itsown code of conduct investigation, he said.

Ouellette declined to comment further, citing the independence of SIRT's investigation.